Claude Users Face Mandatory ID Verification

The AI company Anthropic is introducing identity verification for users of its chatbot Claude starting in July. The move comes amid increasing regulatory pressure and tightening export control requirements.

Anthropic has updated its privacy policy for Claude. Beginning July 8, 2026, the company reserves the right to perform age and identity checks for users on its Claude Free, Pro, and Max plans. The measure applies only to private accounts and does not affect business customers using Team, Enterprise, or API services. According to the updated documentation, the goal is to enhance platform security.

The company states in its revised policy: “Under certain circumstances, we may ask you to verify your age or identity.” However, it does not specify which exact conditions will trigger such verification.

Scope of Data Collected During Verification

The type of data collected depends on the verification method used. In its updated policy, Anthropic outlines several categories of information that may be processed during identity checks:

• A copy of a government-issued ID document, including visible data such as ID number and date of birth
• Photographs or video recordings of the user
• Biometric facial data templates derived from facial structure
• The final result of the age or identity verification process

At the same time, Anthropic emphasizes that its core privacy principles remain unchanged. The company states it does not sell user data, does not serve ads, and continues to allow users to opt out of having conversations used for model training. Verification data is also processed separately from model training pipelines.

Link to US Export Controls and Model Restrictions

The policy update follows closely on the heels of new regulatory measures in the United States. On June 12, 2026, Anthropic was forced to disable global access to its advanced models Claude Fable 5 and Claude Mythos 5.

The restriction resulted from an order issued by the US Department of Commerce under Secretary Howard Lutnick. The export control rules prohibited access to these models for all non-US nationals, including foreign employees working at Anthropic itself.

Because the company could not reliably determine user nationality in real time across its platforms, it disabled access to the models entirely. US authorities justified the order with concerns that advanced American AI systems could be exploited by foreign intelligence services or military actors in countries such as China or Russia.

With the introduction of identity verification, Anthropic is now building the technical infrastructure needed to comply with export restrictions and enforce regulatory requirements, including age and access controls.

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