Claude puts up a wall as ID checks complicate access for Chinese users · TechNode
AI tool Claude, developed by Anthropic, suddenly announced the rollout of a new identity verification system requiring users to complete a real-time selfie check while holding a government-issued ID.
The move has drawn global attention, but for Chinese users in particular, it feels like a heavy blow that erects a difficult-to-cross “wall” in AI access.
This verification is not being applied universally to all users at once. Instead, it is being introduced gradually in specific scenarios. When users attempt to access certain advanced features, or as part of routine platform integrity checks and other safety and compliance measures, a verification prompt may appear.
The process itself appears simple and typically takes no more than five minutes. However, users must prepare a government-issued photo ID—such as a passport, driver’s license, or national ID card—and use a camera-enabled device to capture a real-time selfie.
For Chinese users, the impact of this mechanism is both broad and profound. The barrier to entry has been significantly raised: individuals without passports are excluded from using Claude.
Even for those who do have passports, older accounts may become valuable assets, while new users face hurdles due to real-name verification requirements, making normal access increasingly difficult.
Submitting passport images and live facial data to a US-based company raises serious concerns around data security and privacy, especially amid a complex geopolitical environment. If such sensitive information were to be compromised, the consequences could be difficult to predict.
Claude’s move may only be the beginning. If proven effective, other AI companies could follow suit, fundamentally reshaping the ecosystem of overseas AI services.
Access for Chinese users to high-quality international AI tools may narrow further, and global AI competition could shift from open competition toward regional fragmentation.
This development also serves as a wake-up call and a potential opening for domestic AI models. Chinese AI developers should seize this moment to accelerate technological innovation and product optimization, improve user experience, and better meet growing domestic demand for AI tools, ultimately reducing reliance on overseas AI services.
