[NKCSS]

This is a smart move by Facebook; they already sit on the worlds largest data trove (user profiles with likes, family member info, network info, tagged pictures, etc. etc.), and now they add the last part of the user verification step...

[Tarang]

I wouldn't disagree that its not smart, It increases the value of the data they have.

On the downside it does incur a social cost to do this.

Facebook's brand is more and more thought of negatively and associated more with a bad reputation with how they use their data. At its core the usage is optional and they're testing the waters further and further offshore.

There could come a time user's just don't want to use it anymore or more readily move to an alternative that pops up some day.

The social experience comes from viewing our friends picture's and knowing what they're up to, this is at the core of why we like facebook. Getting our government ID's doesn't help enhance this experience and the social cost of it is way more than the benefits in my opinion.

[sillysaurus2]

How is this smart? (Not disagreeing, just requesting more info.)

[weland]

They can validate their social network graph with ease and therefore ensure they are selling perfectly valid data.

It's really disgusting to see people willfully submitting to this.

[tabookfaced]

Under the guise of user protection "we've locked your account to protect it from suspicious activity, prove you are the owner" they actually confirm the identity they're not sure about and force those who use false names, pseudonyms or multiple accounts to switch to real names or risk being locked out of their contacts and data.

Reducing false accounts and such increases valuation of the data they sit on. When you buy a database of people on the black market it either comes in cheap truckloads of unverified data or expensive chest of verified detailed accounts.

[nercury]

It would make a good data sample for comparing user ID photos with actual tagged photos.