Are You Shocked by How Long Facebook Actually Stores Your ID Documents?

Why Is Facebook Secretly Keeping Your Identity Information for an Entire Year?

Facebook's identity storage practices raise serious concerns for users who value their privacy. When you upload identification documents or video selfies for verification, the platform stores these sensitive materials for up to one year by default. This extended retention period often surprises users who assume their personal information gets deleted quickly after verification.

Why Facebook Collects Your Personal Documents

Facebook requests identity verification in several scenarios. Account recovery tops the list when you lose access to your profile. Age verification becomes necessary for certain features or content restrictions. The platform also triggers identity checks when it detects suspicious activity on your account.

Recent policy changes require all advertisers to verify their identity to combat scams. While these security measures serve legitimate purposes, many users feel uncomfortable knowing a tech giant holds their government-issued IDs and biometric data for months.

Finding Facebook's Hidden Identity Settings

Most users never discover these storage settings because Facebook buries them deep in account preferences. The company enables extended storage by default, meaning your documents remain in their systems unless you actively disable this feature.

I recommend checking your settings immediately if you've ever submitted verification documents. Navigate to your Account Settings and search for "Identity Information" in the search bar. This section reveals options like "Store IDs for 1 year" and "Store video selfies for 1 year" that you can disable.

Steps to Protect Your Identity Data

Taking control requires deliberate action on your part. Here's what I suggest:

Review Current Storage Settings

Access your Facebook Account Settings and locate the Identity Information section. Check whether extended storage options are enabled for your uploaded documents.

Disable Extended Retention

Turn off any settings that allow Facebook to store your IDs or video selfies for extended periods. This prevents the platform from keeping your sensitive information longer than necessary.

Monitor Future Requests

Pay attention to verification prompts and read the fine print about data retention. Facebook sometimes updates these policies, so staying informed protects your interests.

Privacy Risks You Should Consider

Data breaches represent the biggest threat to stored identity information. While Facebook implements security measures, no system is completely immune to attacks. Recent incidents involving billions of exposed login credentials demonstrate how quickly private information can become public.

Your government-issued ID contains enough information for identity theft if it falls into the wrong hands. Video selfies add another layer of biometric data that criminals could potentially misuse. These risks multiply when platforms store such information for extended periods.

Additional Security Measures

Beyond adjusting identity storage settings, I recommend strengthening your overall Facebook security. Change your password regularly and enable two-factor authentication. These steps create multiple barriers against unauthorized access to your account.

Consider limiting the personal information you share on the platform. Review your privacy settings periodically since Facebook frequently updates its policies and default configurations.

Taking Action Today

Don't wait to review your identity storage preferences. Facebook's default settings prioritize the company's operational needs over your privacy concerns. By actively managing these settings, you maintain control over your sensitive personal information.

Remember that privacy protection requires ongoing attention. Social media platforms regularly introduce new features and policies that might affect how they handle your data. Staying vigilant ensures your personal information remains secure in an increasingly connected world.