Musk to check Au10tix allegations by X anti-Israel influencers

Veteran Israeli identity verification company Au10tix In the midst of a new social media storm, as anti-Israel influencers demand that X (formerly Twitter) end its partnership with the company.

For several years, Au10tix has provided Company X with identity verification services for its users, and anti-Israel activists are currently pressuring the social media company to stop working with the company. Among other things, network activists claim that its executives, founder Ron Atzmon and CEO Dan Yerushalmi, are veterans of the Shin Bet, Mossad and the IDF's Intelligence Unit 8200, and are allegedly handing over details of X users to Israeli security. authorities.

These claims are actually false. Atzmon is a veteran of the Israeli Navy, while Yerushalmi was an adjutant in the Israeli Army Communications Corps and a former vice president of sales at Check Point. Furthermore, user information for major customers such as X, Google, PayPal, and Uber is stored on Microsoft servers in the US, UK, and Japan.

The social networking storm that could have blown up a few days later took a surprising turn when Company

As far as we know, Musk has not yet contacted the Israeli company. In a poll conducted by anti-Israel influencer, US Marine veteran Lucas Gage on the X Network, 92% of 50,000 people voted in favor of removing the Israeli company's service. The intervention of Israeli blogger Ella Keenan attracted Israeli voters who slightly improved the Au10tix score.

Au10tix started out working for 20 years verifying passports at airports before expanding into identity verification for online payment services.

Au10tix allows its customers, including Uber, Google, Payoneer and Fiverr, to verify the identity of their users by quickly checking their ID card or driver's license. All the user needs to do is scan the certificate with the phone and speak for a few seconds into the camera – and the verification process is completed in up to eight seconds.

Influencers from Russia, China, Iran and Qatar are concerned

X began using the Israeli company's services even before Musk acquired the social network about two years ago. The protest against the Israeli company began after notices were sent in recent days to online influencers who generate revenue that they are expected to pass identity verification checks by July 1, otherwise their ability to continue generating income from the platform will be blocked. Some sources believe that opposition to the Israeli company's activity is a concern for influencers who are part of smear campaigns against Israel, or those employed by Russia, China, Qatar and Iran, as an Israeli company will verify their identity and possibly remove them from the system due to lack of verification.

The main shareholders of Au10tix are ICTS, the data security company of Ron and Jill Atzmon, and the Oak and TPG funds, which together hold a 10% stake. In the past, the company sought a Wall Street listing by selling 50% of its shares through a SPAC merger but the initiative was dropped.

Au10tix has been profitable since its founding, and to our knowledge has never raised any money. The company employs 200 employees in its offices in Hod Hasharon.

Au10tix said: “Au10tix adheres to all international standards related to privacy protection and does not pass on details to any third party. This has always been the case in the past and will continue to be the case in the future.”

Published by Globes, Israel Business News – en.globes.co.il – on June 4, 2024.

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