Get All Access for $5/mo

Elon Musk's X Is Going to Find Out Where You Work and Another Very Personal Piece of Data — Here's Why The company, formerly known as Twitter, made some changes to its privacy policy on Thursday.

By Amanda Breen

Key Takeaways

  • Platforms can use biometrics, such as facial scans, to authenticate people when they sign in or make payments.
  • X's updated privacy policy appears to be another step in the direction of Elon Musk's vision for an "everything app."

Users' privacy is at stake as SpaceX founder and Tesla CEO Elon Musk forges ahead with his plan to make X, formerly Twitter, an "everything app."

X will start collecting its users' biometric and employment data on September 29, the company revealed in an update to its privacy policy on Thursday.

Related: Bright X Sign at Twitter HQ Reportedly Went Up Without Permits

According to the privacy policy, X may gather and use users' biometric data "for safety, security, and identification purposes." The company will do the same with employment history to facilitate career searches, including recommending potential jobs and allowing employers to find potential candidates.

Platforms can use biometrics, such as fingerprints and facial scans, to authenticate people when they log in or make a transaction. X could theoretically collect that information through photos or videos by asking people to turn on their cameras, though the company has yet to explain how it will work, CNBC reported.

Related: 'X' Is Auctioning Off Hundreds of Twitter Office Items | Entrepreneur

"X is the future state of unlimited interactivity — centered in audio, video, messaging, payments/banking — creating a global marketplace for ideas, goods, services, and opportunities," the company's new CEO Linda Yaccarino wrote on the platform in July.

Last year, X reportedly purchased job recruitment tool Laskie, Bloomberg reported, and in April, the company signed a deal with Israeli stock trading app eToro, per CNBC.
Amanda Breen

Entrepreneur Staff

Senior Features Writer

Amanda Breen is a senior features writer at Entrepreneur.com. She is a graduate of Barnard College and received an MFA in writing at Columbia University, where she was a news fellow for the School of the Arts.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Leadership

Should I Stay or Should I Go? 8 Key Points to Navigate the Founder's Dilemma

Here are eight key signs that help founders determine whether to persevere or let go.

Growing a Business

How Connecting With the Right Audience Drives Long-Term Business Success

Here's how targeted lead generation can help you unlock higher conversions, stronger brand loyalty and scalable growth.

Starting a Business

They Bought an Ice Cream Truck Off eBay for $5,000. Now Their Company Has 70 Shops and Sells Treats in Over 12,000 Stores.

For the episode of "The Founder CEO," the co-founder and CEO of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream explains how one ice cream truck grew into a successful nationwide brand.

Marketing

Your Most Powerful Marketing Weapon Is Hiding in the Finance Department — Here's Why

Transform your marketing leadership by turning finance from a barrier into a strategic ally. Learn how aligning with your finance team can drive unprecedented growth and innovation.

Business News

'You Own Nothing Here on Social': Meta Outage, Looming TikTok Ban Has Creators Questioning How Much of Their Business They Really Control

With repeated tech outages and a possible TikTok ban on the horizon, creators are looking for new ways to influence. Turns out, one old-school way still reigns supreme.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.