I really appreciate this write-up.

Was forced to verify to get access to a new account. Like, an interstitial page that forced verification before even basic access.

Brief context for that: was being granted a salesnav licence, but to my work address with no account attached to it. Plus I had an existing salesnav trial underway on main account and didn't want to give access to that work.

So I reluctantly verified with my passport (!) and got access. Then looked at all the privacy settings to try to access what I'd given, but the full export was only sign up date and one other row in a csv. I switched off all the dark pattern ad settings that were default on, then tried to recall the name of the company. Lack of time meant I haven't been able to follow up. I was deeply uncomfortable with the whole process.

So now I've requested my info and deletion via the details in the post, from the work address.

One other concern is if my verified is ever forced to be my main, I'll be screwed for contacts and years of connections. So I'll try to shut it down soon when I'm sure we're done at work. But tbh I don't think the issues will end there either.

Why do these services have to suck so much. Why does money confer such power instead of goodwill, integrity and trust/trustless systems. Things have to change. Or, just stay off the grid. But that shouldn't have to be the choice. Where are the decentralised services. I'm increasingly serious about this.

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SomeUserName432 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

> Was forced to verify to get access to a new account. Like, an interstitial page that forced verification before even basic access.

I'm forced to verify to access my existing account.

I cannot delete it, nor opt out of 'being used for AI content' without first handing them over even more information I'm sure will be used for completely benign purposes.

	▲	luxpir 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		That's concerning. Kids in Oz were getting around social media age restrictions by holding up celeb photos. I doubt that'll work in this case, but I'd be tempted to start thinking of ways to circumvent. At the risk of losing the account, it's a very bad situation they are forcing people into.

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stateofinquiry an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

Thank you for sharing this.

I understand, and even agree, that how this is being handled has some pretty creepy aspects. But one thing missing from the comments I see here and elsewhere is: How else should verification be handled? We have a real problem with AI/bots online these days, trust will be at a premium. How can we try to assure it? I can think of one way: Everyone must pay to be a member (there will still be fraud, but it will cost!). How else can we verify with a better set of tradeoffs?

There is some info from Persona CEO on (of course) LinkedIn, in response to a post from security researcher Brian Krebs: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bkrebs_if-you-are-thinking-ab... . I note he's not verified, but he does pay for the service.

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throwaway063_1 40 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

> How else should verification be handled?

Many European countries have secure electronic identifications that are trusted by the government, banks etc.

Linkedin could easily use this to verify the identities.

Examplse of services where you can verify the identity in 35 different providers with a single API:

https://www.signicat.com/products/identity-proofing/eid-hub or https://www.scrive.com/products/eid-hub

I doubt it would take more than a sprint to integrate with this or other services.

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anttihaapala an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

How about everyone gets a digital certification from their own government that this is the person named this and that. No need to share cranial measurements and iris scans.

	▲	stateofinquiry 38 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		Well, different trade offs there. On the plus side, sounds pretty simple. On the other hand... Digital certification from the gov sounds a lot like "digital ID", which has run into considerable resistance in the UK and EU in just the last few months. As a general observation I find most EU citizens I interact with much more trusting of government than ... well, any other group of folks I have interacted with (I have the privilege of having lived and worked in S. America, N. America, sub Saharan Africa and now an EU country). If it does not fly well here, I don't think its general solution that most people would be comfortable with. https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2025/10/09/britcard-uk-di...