What did Anthropic’s Claude identity verification add?

Anthropic adds identity verification for some Claude capabilities

Anthropic has rolled out a new identity verification step for Claude users, with the requirement that some capabilities may only be available after users provide a government-issued photo ID and complete a live selfie.

The change effectively moves certain Claude features behind additional identity checks, tightening access controls for “certain capabilities.” That could affect both consumer users and organizations that rely on Claude for workflows where access to advanced tools is important.

Why it matters

Identity verification in AI platforms is a growing lever for managing abuse, fraud, or access to higher-risk functionality. By requiring ID and a real-time selfie, Anthropic creates a stronger link between a user account and a real identity than email or phone verification alone.

For enterprise and prosumer use, it also changes the onboarding friction: teams may need to ensure users can complete verification steps, and administrators may need to plan for uneven access during account setup.

What’s still unclear

The reporting does not specify which exact capabilities are gated, or how widely the requirement applies across plan types and regions. It also does not provide details on how long verification lasts or what happens if verification cannot be completed.

Overall, the update signals that the next phase of large-model access is increasingly tied to identity assurance—especially for features Anthropic considers more sensitive or higher impact.