Notarized Verification is better than Identity Theft.
A client on Upwork used data from Upwork to start making threats, harassing me, then filed a lawsuit.
The judge told the client to stop harassing me, and ultimately I won the suit. But this experience shows that the current system of verification is flawed, and there is a better way.
My bank account is verified and I completed Video verification. But I won't upload a government ID. Upwork admits that they'll keep your uploaded ID for 30 days, during that time, it's sent to some third party verification agency.
That also means that any subpoena can force Upwork to produce a copy of the ID. Or Upwork can send a copy of the ID if they feel they need to.
But there is a better, safer way to do verification.
My bank, the same one that Upwork has already verified, has a notary on staff. The notary can verify my photo on Upwork, my address on Upwork and who I am by looking at my ID. A letter, signed and stamped by the notary (notarized) can be uploaded and sent to Upwork.
One phone call to the bank, who's number can be verified online, can confirm the notary's documentation.
The benefit of using notaries, is that it keeps the workers ID safe, and yet gives Upwork the verification it desires.
I can't speak for all countries, but here in the United States, most banks have a notary. And since banks require ID anyway, the address on the bank account, and the address on the person's ID, likely already match.
A freelancers can simply print the profile picture and address from their Upwork account, and have the notary, notarizes a letter from the user. That the picture is from the person that holds the bank account. That the address on the bank account matches the address on Uprork.
I won't be uploading my ID for privacy and abuse concerns.
Notarization is a reasonable, safe way to provide verification. I suggest we all endorse notarized verification. I have no trust in some third party, but I trust my bank, and their notary.
