LinkedIn Identity Verification: What Personal Data You Actually Share with Third Parties
By
ColinWright
Toasted golden, schmeared with insight. Top of the rack.
Summary
The author describes their experience verifying their LinkedIn identity to get a blue checkmark, which required submitting passport scans and facial biometrics to a third-party company called Persona. The article reveals concerning privacy implications: Persona collects extensive personal data including biometrics, device information, and behavioral data, and shares it with numerous third parties including law enforcement and data brokers. The author highlights the lack of transparency about which company actually processes the verification and the broad data collection practices that go far beyond simple identity verification.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledI wanted the blue checkmark on LinkedIn. The one that says 'this person is real.' In a sea of fake recruiters, bot accounts, and AI-generated headshots, it seemed like a smart thing to do.
Not LinkedIn's. The other company's. The one that actually processes your passport scan, your selfie, and your biometric data.
Persona's privacy policy says it collects biometric data, including 'face geometry' and 'facial features,' and can share it with 'law enforcement, government agencies, and other third parties.'
The company says it may share your data with 'data brokers, marketing partners, and other service providers' — a list that includes companies like Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and various analytics firms.
I had assumed I was giving my data to LinkedIn. In reality, I was giving it to a company I'd never heard of, with a privacy policy that made my skin crawl.
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