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It would raise some flags if my bank representative or doctor ask for a photo copy of my passport. Asking to simply see it, given that they have a specific reason to do so, would not.

Online however there is no such thing to simply see something. Everything is a copy that can be used for any purpose.

A few years ago there was a major leak at a porn streaming site with a large number of people getting their passports leaked. It was reported as a major disaster for those involved.

I show my ID to pick up my order from Home Depot. I’d suppose Facebook would be trying to prevent someone else from accessing your account, like Home Depot is preventing someone from taking my order.

Very different to flash an ID to a store employee than to give them a copy of your license tied to a highly-detailed account of online activity on and off of their platform :shrug:

sure - but, as I originally asked, what is the alternative? I'm not attempting snark; I genuinely want to know what a better approach is.

Profiling you to increase revenue.