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Options for when selfies are required?
(lemmy.today)
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this post was submitted on 01 Nov 2025
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Privacy
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If the service has legitimate reasons, like it is a web hosting company or something governmental, then why not. If it is a social network, a game or the like, I will simply not use it.
Using services of a hosting company is something very serious, because the stakes are high, both in costs and in legal responsibility, so most likely you will need to prove your identity. Some companies will even require a meeting to sign a contract.
How is it legit for a hosting company tp demand a selfie!? Is that a thing now? I had multiple hosting accounts and never encontered anything more than requirement to add a credit card
Because users need to be accountable for how they use their services, like hosting phishing websites, sending massive spam or scam campaigns. They would ask for a selfie, not stored, to match it with an ID.
Not all hosting providers do ask for ID. A credit card is not enough to prove identity because you can use virtual anonymous ones.
Any example of one that requires it (so I know what not to use)?
Hetzner
Woah. I had a server with them until like 2022 or 2023 and they didn't do strange things like this
It's hard to trust organizations to store digital data (including selfie photos) without leaking. Even without leaks, the data is still has the possibility to be accessed by members of the organization, their vendors and auditors. Will everyone use the data only for the intended purpose? I can't be certain so I'd like to push back on these kind of requirements when I'm able.
Incidents of these selfie leaks have already been reported.
Respectable ones, do not store them, they just check them live. If they do, then they open the door for problems.
I have never had a web host ask me to prove my identity, and I would probably pick a different one if they did.
They do have my credit card number though, so I'm far from anonymous.