Submitting your ID or biometric data to social media companies may feel like a quick way to unlock features or verify your identity, but it comes with long-term risks. These platforms often retain, repurpose, and share sensitive information in ways users cannot fully control.

Prefer listening? Hit play below to hear this post come to life!

Powered by RedCircle

The Hidden Dangers of Giving Social Media Your ID or Biometrics

Many social platforms now ask for government IDs or facial scans to “verify” your identity. But what really happens to that data, and why should you think twice before handing it over?

Why do social media platforms want your ID or biometric information?

Social networks frame identity verification as a way to reduce bots, comply with age-verification laws, or unlock account recovery features. While partially true, these programs also allow companies to expand their data collection footprint.
Platforms like Meta have a long history of using personal information in ways users never explicitly consented to. For example, Meta’s previous use of facial recognition led to a $650 million settlement under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, covered here by the American Bar Association: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/business_law/resources/business-law-today/2021-february/historic-biometric-privacy-settlement/.

What risks are you taking when handing over biometric data?

Biometric data is far more sensitive than anything you can change—unlike passwords or phone numbers. Once exposed, stolen, or misused, you cannot reset your fingerprints, face, or voice.

A particularly concerning trend is “function creep,” where platforms steadily broaden how they use your sensitive data. Gekonova covers this risk in detail: https://www.gekonova.com/function-creep-biometrics/.

Could social media companies share or sell this sensitive data?

Yes — even when a platform doesn’t explicitly “sell your faceprint,” the aggregated biometrics, metadata, and derived behavioural profiles can be exchanged with analytics firms, advertisers or third-party vendors. In the absence of robust regulation, these practices are often buried under “trusted partner” clauses. The legal and regulatory landscape is evolving—thanks to the FTC, civil-rights bodies, and increasing class-action suits—but many users still give consent without full understanding.

FTC cautions businesses on biometric data collection: https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/articles/biometric-data-is-being-collected-now-what/.

Key forms of risk include:

1. Secondary use of biometrics: Faceprints or ID scans repurposed for ad targeting, moderation training, or behavioral profiling.
2. Data retention beyond what’s necessary: Even after verification, companies may hold your documents indefinitely.
3. Future policy changes: Updated terms can massively expand allowed usage.
4. Government requests: Many countries allow agencies broad access to platform-verified IDs.
5. Breach exposure: Biometric databases are high-value ransomware targets.

How do identity-verification systems typically work?

Here’s the simplified process:

1. Upload your ID, selfie, or biometric sample.
2. Process it through automated verification or an identity-proofing vendor.
3. Store a copy—sometimes indefinitely.
4. Link the verification result permanently to your account.
5. Reuse or share it under policy allowances you may have overlooked.

What key facts should users know before submitting an ID or face scan?

How can you decide whether verifying your identity is worth it?

Before uploading anything, work through these steps:

1. Check whether verification is truly required (many “requirements” are optional).
2. Read the section of the privacy policy that covers biometrics—not the general policy.
3. Look for named third-party verification vendors and research their track record.
4. Assess whether you can use an alternative, like security questions or email validation.
5. Determine how much of your account would be lost if you decline.
6. Consider switching platforms if ID collection is mandatory for basic features.

Are age-verification laws actually making biometrics more common?

Yes. Governments increasingly pressure platforms to verify user ages, and many companies use this as justification for collecting IDs or facial data—even when less-invasive methods exist. The concern is that these systems will become the default rather than the exception.

FAQs

Do social media platforms delete my ID after verification?
Often they do not. Policies typically state they retain some data for “security,” “appeals,” or “audit purposes.”

Can I request deletion of my biometric information?
In some regions (like Illinois or under GDPR), yes. In many others, no enforceable right exists.

Are biometric vendors more dangerous than the social media platforms themselves?
They can be. Third-party processors often operate outside public scrutiny.

Is facial-recognition verification safer than uploading a government ID?
Not necessarily. Faceprints can be stored indefinitely and reused for unrelated purposes.

What alternatives exist to biometric verification?
In many cases: email-based challenges, app-based authenticator codes, or age-estimation methods that don’t require uploading an ID.

What to do next

Run your existing accounts through a privacy settings audit using your platform’s security dashboard or a trusted privacy-checking tool to see where biometric or ID data may already be stored.

*This article was written or edited with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed by a human editor before publication.