I Verified My LinkedIn Identity. Here’s What I Handed Over
I Verified My LinkedIn Identity. Here’s What I Actually Handed Over. Feb 16, 2026 10 min read privacy, linkedin, biometrics, gdpr, cloud-act, identity I wanted the blue checkmark on LinkedIn. The one that says “this person is real.” In a sea of fake recruiters, bot accounts, and AI-generated headshots, it seemed like a smart thing to do. So I tapped “verify.” I scanned my passport. I took a selfie. Three minutes later — done. Badge acquired. I felt a tiny dopamine hit of legitimacy. Then I did what apparently nobody does. I went and read the privacy policy and terms of service. Not LinkedIn’s. The other company’s. Wait, What Other Company? When you click “verify” on LinkedIn, you’re not giving your passport to LinkedIn. You get redirected to a company called…
