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Some Instagram users concerned after app asks them to upload a photo ID

Posted at 3:31 PM, Jan 27, 2013
and last updated 2013-01-27 15:36:42-05

Some users of the Facebook-owned Instagram service are concerned after they were locked out of their accounts and asked to upload a photo ID to confirm their identity.

Many thought their accounts had been hacked, according to Mashable, but the requests are legitimate and part of a crackdown on account violations.

As Instagram doesn’t require users to provide their real names, it’s unclear why the photo-sharing app would ask for official ID. Facebook, on the other hand, does ask for users’ real names. The social-network giant declined to comment on the matter.

Instagram’s terms of service give the company the right to “refuse access to the Service to anyone for any reason at any time.”

The crackdown came as Instagram updated its terms of service on January 19th, according to CNET.