Identity verification on AI training platforms: what they check and why

Why platforms verify identity at all

Identity verification on AI training platforms exists because the client is paying for a specific expert's judgement. Mercor puts it most directly: its clients trust it "to deliver work that is genuinely yours", and it checks that "the person hired is the person expected to do the work." DataAnnotation calls verification a measure that "ensures fair access to projects". Alignerr says it verifies every applicant "to ensure the security and integrity of the Alignerr community."

What the check involves

Mercor, Alignerr and DataAnnotation all use Persona, a third-party verification service. The steps are much the same on each:

• A physical government ID with your photo: passport, national ID card or driving licence. DataAnnotation requires it to be valid and unexpired. Mercor says a photo of your ID on a screen "will be rejected".
• A selfie video, turning your head left and right when prompted.
• A phone check. Alignerr starts with a text message code before the ID step. Outlier asks for a valid ID and a mobile phone "from your country of residence".

DataAnnotation adds that an ID showing an older address is fine "as long as you have been associated with the address listed on your ID."

On timing, Mercor says most verifications complete in moments and some take up to one business day. DataAnnotation says the check typically takes a few minutes and has no deadline once you are prompted.

The location check inside it

Verification also checks where you are. Mercor's help page explains that Persona detects your country from your IP address and pre-fills the address form to match, so a VPN or iCloud Private Relay routing traffic through the US locks the form to US ZIP codes. DataAnnotation says people who never chose a VPN can still trip this on a work or university computer or network. Switch everything off first and, if in doubt, verify on your phone over mobile data.

Not the same as a background check

Mercor separates three checks that are easy to confuse: Persona identity verification; a background check through a screening provider, which its background check page says can cover education, employment history, professional licences and, where applicable, criminal records; and Stripe's own identity check when you set up payments. Mercor states the Persona step is mandatory and, in most cases, done only once.

Where your data goes

DataAnnotation states your information, "including your biometric data", is stored by DataAnnotation and Persona "for purposes of identity verification only". Mercor says your ID and selfie are processed on Persona's infrastructure under Persona's privacy policy. DataAnnotation also states it will never ask you for money for verification or anything else, so a fee request in its name is a warning sign. For wider privacy questions, read privacy checks before AI training work, and for where verification sits in onboarding, how to get started.

Sources

Mercor's ID verification, background check and conduct pages; the DataAnnotation FAQ; Alignerr's process page; the Outlier FAQ. All read on 29 September 2026. We are not affiliated with any of these platforms.