Anthropic recently rolled out an identity verification mechanism on the Claude platform. Based on the official help center documentation and the list of supported countries and regions, this article summarizes the core points of the mechanism, with a focus on assessing the actual impact on users in unsupported regions (e.g., mainland China) and viable strategies.

1. Core points of the identity verification mechanism

1.1 Purpose

According to the official statement, identity verification aims to:

• Prevent technical abuse
• Enforce platform usage policies
• Fulfill legal and security compliance obligations

When users access certain features, a verification prompt may appear — this is part of routine platform integrity checks.

1.2 Verification methods and required materials

The verification service is powered by Persona Identities. Users need to prepare:

• A valid government-issued photo ID (passport, driver’s license/state ID, or national ID)
• A device with a camera: a live selfie may be required
• The verification process typically takes no more than five minutes

Document types that are NOT accepted include: photocopies/screenshots/scans, digital IDs (such as electronic driver’s licenses), student/employee/bank cards, and temporary paper IDs.

1.3 Data privacy statement

The official documentation highlights the following privacy protections:

• Anthropic is the data controller of verification data; Persona only processes data as instructed
• ID documents and selfies are not stored directly by Anthropic but kept on the Persona platform
• Data is used only for identity confirmation and legal/security obligations, not for model training, and is not shared with third parties for marketing or advertising
• Both transmission and storage are encrypted

1.4 Why accounts can still be banned after verification

The official documentation explicitly lists four situations that can lead to account suspension:

• Repeated violations of usage policies
• Creating an account from an unsupported location
• Violating the Terms of Service
• Use by individuals under 18

This point is especially critical for users in unsupported regions: even if identity verification passes, if the system determines the account originates from an unsupported region, there is still a risk of a ban.

2. Real impact on Chinese users

2.1 Mainland China is not on the official supported list

According to Anthropic’s Supported Countries and Regions page, mainland China does not appear in the supported list for Claude.ai or the commercial API. The list includes Taiwan, but not mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau.

2.2 Core impact assessment

2.3 Behaviors more likely to trigger verification

Although the official trigger conditions are not fully disclosed, based on standard platform risk-control logic, the following behaviors are more likely to trigger identity verification:

• High-frequency API calls or anomalous usage patterns
• Upgrading to Claude Pro / purchasing large API credits
• Frequently switching IP addresses or login devices
• Accounts being reported or generating policy-violating content
• Using unconventional payment methods such as virtual credit cards or gift cards

3. Response strategies

3.1 For existing accounts: reduce the chance of being triggered

If you still hold a usable account, the following measures can help extend its useful life:

• Keep a low profile: try to avoid triggering high-risk-control features
• Stabilize your network environment: minimize IP hopping and maintain consistent access patterns
• Comply with usage policies: avoid generating prohibited content to reduce the chance of being reported

It should be clear that these measures can only lower the probability of being triggered; they cannot eliminate the structural risk of being in an “unsupported region.”

3.2 Long-term alternatives

Given the low compliance ceiling for personal accounts, it’s advisable to migrate to more stable, sustainable channels:

3.3 If you’ve already been banned

The official appeal form lets users submit a review request. However, if the ban reason is “originating from an unsupported region,” the chance of a successful appeal is very low. It’s better to prioritize backing up and migrating your data and session records.

3.4 Risks of creating a new account

Under the current policy, the long-term viability of a new mainland China user registering a personal Claude account and passing identity verification is highly uncertain. If there’s a genuine need, it’s recommended to apply through enterprise-grade cloud services or a physical office environment in a supported region in a compliant way, rather than relying on SMS-activation codes or virtual payment methods.

4. Summary

Claude’s identity verification mechanism elevates “regional restrictions” from a background risk-control rule to a front-facing compliance hurdle. This means:

• Technical and payment-based workarounds (VPNs, virtual numbers, shared accounts) largely fail in the face of identity verification
• Even after passing verification, “unsupported region” remains a red line that can directly trigger a ban
• For long-term, stable business needs, migrating to enterprise cloud channels or local alternative models is the more sustainable strategy

This change also reflects the trend of leading AI platforms tightening compliance boundaries during global expansion. For users in unsupported regions, accepting this structural constraint and planning alternatives in advance is more rational than continuously investing in circumvention.