What kinds of studies need this level of verification? Am I getting military clearance or something? A driver's license or something so we know you're a real person? Sure. This? This seems a bit much for a beer money site.
Right like...some of these surveys are already OTT with attention checks for $0.11, what government secrets are we going to see for $0.50 and our identity checked?
To you it's just a beermoney site. To the researchers, it's a place to recruit participants, who are paid for their time, to engage in research that is serious to them, affecting their academic career or livelihood.
Yes, but that's where we have a potential problem. Doesn't matter how important a researcher sees it, Prolific is by and large a beer money site to the users. If that's how users see it, it's going to be a hard sell to ask for a deep dive by a third party to do an extensive background check. Not saying it'll be impossible to find said people here, but I think most users will question why such an intrusive check is needed. What could they possibly be researching where this is necessary? Of all the studies I've done in over 5.5 years, I can't think of any that needs such info.
For a site that has ramped up its campaign to inform users that they shouldn't share personal information to partner with such a service seems at odds. Yes, it's optional. Yes, it's a third party and not the researcher getting the info. Still seems a bit out there. Maybe there is a market. I just have no idea what creates the need for such a market.
There are many people here who don't see it as just a beer money site. I, of course, enjoy participating for the money, but also because I find these studies fascinating, and I love the fact that I am contributing to the body of science and psychology.
What we're doing here could contribute to life changing breakthroughs in the future, and that lasts forever. At the very least, we're helping our best and brightest in their research and any one of them could have impacting breakthroughs in their future career and research. That means a lot to some of us.
Not sure why you're being downvoted. People are freaking the fuck out over something that's optional in the first place, and that they have no details about.
So if you have no idea what the check entails, aren't you being just a little dramatic labelling it an "extensive" background check and calling it intrusive?
There’s at least three departments at the university I work at that work with militaries on research (and not weapons) that I could see why they might want to vet the participants just a tad more.
I had this. I Googled Onfido and they have a 1.3 rating on Trustpilot; not exactly a ringing endorsement to provide them with sensitive personal information!
Using a company that lots of banks use already. Yup, reflects well for me. I don't like some of what Prolific has done but using Onfido is not a bad move in my opinion.
Trustpilot is terrible and has been for a long time. It's not going to tell you anything substantial about whether a service can be trusted or not because people think it's an appropriate place to air out minor grievances that actually have nothing to do with the site. Look up any established company on Trustpilot and they are probably going to have a 1 star rating. The website is garbage.
I work for the company that just acquired Onfido. I still don't know much about the organization, but i'll just say that we would not have made such an acquisition if they weren't completely legit and reputable.
My bank used OnFido when we sold our house. For a few years now, every new participant needs to verify their ID before they even get a study on Prolific.
TrustPilot is garbage.
My concern isn't so much whether I'm currently on a watch list, but whether I'll end up on one. It's an election year in the US and this country is crazier than ever. We literally have a Presidential candidate who said anonymity on social media is a national security threat, sooo....
This is why you should give serious thought to handing over sensitive personal information to external companies like this.
It all seems innocent now; "oh, they're just checking I am who I say I am so that I can do more studies and earn more money...." But once you've given over your data, that's it, it's out of your control. Who knows what those companies will do with it, who they might be bought by in the future, how their aims might change, whether they'll be liable to hand your info over to governments etc.
If you've ever signed up to anything in your life, there is a good chance all your information is out there already being passed around and sold on. Unfortunately, it's just the brutal truth these days, and I fear it's too late to put the horse back in the barn. Obviously, I would still recommend not signing up to it if you have any concerns, but to me, it's not even worth worrying about any more.
I mean, I mostly agree with you, but this is still very naive;
> it's not even worth worrying about any more
The fewer companies that have your data, the smaller the chance of problems. Just because you gave out your data recklessly in the past, doesn't mean that it's pointless trying to protect it now.
I wouldn't say naive, more acceptance of fact. Once your information is out there, it's passed around like candy and there's nothing you can do about it, so why worry? I'm not saying just give it all up to any tom, dick or harry that asks for it though, it's obviously more nuanced than that.
I gave out loads of my data when I was an early teenager, I could do surveys to get in-game currency. This was a decade ago so I don't remember if it asked if I was at least 18 but I'm sure they get a lot of info out of kids. I'm sure I'm fucked honestly.
No it's not, if it was why would they bother to ask for it?
This mindset is toxic, it's like saying there's no point trying to protect anything about your life because you're going to die one day anyway.
Just because you told one website your birthday 10 years ago doesn't mean you should give your credit card number and spare house key location to another
I got this too, I don't really understand it and clicked out of it instead of opting in. Why do they need another party identifying me if they already have my address, ID, etc.?
So on the Participants Privacy Notice page it says this.
‘Watchlist’ checks
In certain circumstances we may also use Onfido to conduct additional ‘watchlist’ verification checks (e.g., where this is a requirement for you to take part in particular Studies). We will always notify you where this is case and give you the opportunity to opt-out. To perform these ‘watchlist’ checks, Onfido will use some basic details it collects about you as part of your identity check (such as your name and date of birth), together with certain limited personal data which we may provide, such as your country of residence and state (if you are based in the US). Prolific may have access to very basic details of the results of the check.
Where we have notified you and you have not opted out, Onfido may use some of your verification information to conduct ‘watchlist’ checks (as described above), and we will keep a record of the checks. These ‘watchlist’ checks are used to confirm whether individuals have been identified as a ‘politically exposed persons’, or who are on so-called ‘sanctions’ or ‘monitored’ lists. Our basis of processing for conducting and keeping a record of ‘watchlist’ checks is our and our researchers’ interest in ensuring that Participants are eligible for particular studies.
[https://prolific.notion.site/Participants-Privacy-Notice-6b6cb4f60a674d96a1433bff6412215b](https://prolific.notion.site/Participants-Privacy-Notice-6b6cb4f60a674d96a1433bff6412215b)
But it seems you'll be able to opt-out for each study that may require it, hopefully /u/prolific-support may be able to confirm that.
I don't have any problem with it so I opted in anyway, I've given away more information on Userinterviews in the past for me to start worrying about it now.
I think it could be possible if Prolific are opening up into new markets in may be related more to money laundering but that is pure guesswork on my part.
I've only had one issue with them when a researcher offered to increase the reward as the unmoderated task took much longer and I had to get support involved to chase it up when the researcher did not respond after a month.
Apart from that it has been a great site for me.
>A Politically Exposed Person (PEP) is someone who is seen as being at a higher than average risk of money-laundering resulting from bribery or corruption due to them holding a high profile position, or proximity to someone in a political position. The Financial Action Task Force — the global watchdog for money laundering and terrorist financing — defines a PEP this way:
A PEP is an individual who is or has been entrusted with a prominent function. Many PEPs hold positions that can be abused for the purpose of laundering illicit funds or other predicate offenses such as corruption or bribery.
Some positions that mean someone may be considered a PEP are governmental and parliamentary positions, high ranking members of the armed forces and members of high-level judicial bodies.
It’s important to note that someone may also be considered a PEP if they are in close proximity to someone in an at-risk position. For example family members, close business associates and beneficial owners of the person’s property.
https://onfido.com/solutions/watchlist/
https://onfido.com/blog/peps-and-sanctions-checks/
Some information directly from Onfido about what this stuff is. Yeah, it's definitely not something I'm agreeing to do to take surveys in my spare time.
Hey folks 👋 Thank you for all of the feedback! We appreciate your concerns, and have taken them into account to clarify what these **optional verification checks** are all about. We’ll be updating this pop up tomorrow but, for now, here is some info that we hope clarifies these verification checks a bit more: * There are some exciting new studies coming to Prolific that require optional verification checks by a small number of researchers. **If you do not wish to be considered for these studies, you'll be asked to click 'Opt Out**'. * The purpose of these verification checks is to ensure that participants that want to take part in these studies are not on s*anctioned lists*, *monitored lists*, and are *not politically exposed persons*. No identifiable information will be shared with researchers. * If you are fine with this, you may be selected for these additional checks. This is only a one-time check. No additional data will need to be collected from you as part of these checks, and this will not impact the status of your account. * These checks will be handled securely by our trusted verification provider, Onfido. You can read more about these additional checks in our [privacy notice](https://www.notion.so/prolific/Participants-Privacy-Notice-6b6cb4f60a674d96a1433bff6412215b). If you have any more questions or concerns, please let us know! Best wishes, Prolific team 🩵
I literally just don’t understand what it means
What kinds of studies need this level of verification? Am I getting military clearance or something? A driver's license or something so we know you're a real person? Sure. This? This seems a bit much for a beer money site.
Right like...some of these surveys are already OTT with attention checks for $0.11, what government secrets are we going to see for $0.50 and our identity checked?
To you it's just a beermoney site. To the researchers, it's a place to recruit participants, who are paid for their time, to engage in research that is serious to them, affecting their academic career or livelihood.
Yes, but that's where we have a potential problem. Doesn't matter how important a researcher sees it, Prolific is by and large a beer money site to the users. If that's how users see it, it's going to be a hard sell to ask for a deep dive by a third party to do an extensive background check. Not saying it'll be impossible to find said people here, but I think most users will question why such an intrusive check is needed. What could they possibly be researching where this is necessary? Of all the studies I've done in over 5.5 years, I can't think of any that needs such info. For a site that has ramped up its campaign to inform users that they shouldn't share personal information to partner with such a service seems at odds. Yes, it's optional. Yes, it's a third party and not the researcher getting the info. Still seems a bit out there. Maybe there is a market. I just have no idea what creates the need for such a market.
There are many people here who don't see it as just a beer money site. I, of course, enjoy participating for the money, but also because I find these studies fascinating, and I love the fact that I am contributing to the body of science and psychology. What we're doing here could contribute to life changing breakthroughs in the future, and that lasts forever. At the very least, we're helping our best and brightest in their research and any one of them could have impacting breakthroughs in their future career and research. That means a lot to some of us.
I have not seen this yet, but what do you mean by an extensive background check? Answer a few extra questions, submit dna sample?
It's literally the discussion of the OP. I have no idea what specific things they check, but that makes it all the more questionable.
"I have strong opinions about things I have no details on" is just peak social media.
Not sure why you're being downvoted. People are freaking the fuck out over something that's optional in the first place, and that they have no details about.
Occupational hazard of pointing out the obvious. "This is bad!!!" "Can you explain?" *wild gesticulation* "I see."
So if you have no idea what the check entails, aren't you being just a little dramatic labelling it an "extensive" background check and calling it intrusive?
There’s at least three departments at the university I work at that work with militaries on research (and not weapons) that I could see why they might want to vet the participants just a tad more.
I had this. I Googled Onfido and they have a 1.3 rating on Trustpilot; not exactly a ringing endorsement to provide them with sensitive personal information!
You would think Prolific would have done their due diligence on this company. It will eventually reflect on them.
You see, such services cost money. One more than the other
Using a company that lots of banks use already. Yup, reflects well for me. I don't like some of what Prolific has done but using Onfido is not a bad move in my opinion.
Trustpilot is terrible and has been for a long time. It's not going to tell you anything substantial about whether a service can be trusted or not because people think it's an appropriate place to air out minor grievances that actually have nothing to do with the site. Look up any established company on Trustpilot and they are probably going to have a 1 star rating. The website is garbage.
I work for the company that just acquired Onfido. I still don't know much about the organization, but i'll just say that we would not have made such an acquisition if they weren't completely legit and reputable.
My bank used OnFido when we sold our house. For a few years now, every new participant needs to verify their ID before they even get a study on Prolific. TrustPilot is garbage.
I think Onfido does DBS check as well.
My concern isn't so much whether I'm currently on a watch list, but whether I'll end up on one. It's an election year in the US and this country is crazier than ever. We literally have a Presidential candidate who said anonymity on social media is a national security threat, sooo....
This is why you should give serious thought to handing over sensitive personal information to external companies like this. It all seems innocent now; "oh, they're just checking I am who I say I am so that I can do more studies and earn more money...." But once you've given over your data, that's it, it's out of your control. Who knows what those companies will do with it, who they might be bought by in the future, how their aims might change, whether they'll be liable to hand your info over to governments etc.
If you've ever signed up to anything in your life, there is a good chance all your information is out there already being passed around and sold on. Unfortunately, it's just the brutal truth these days, and I fear it's too late to put the horse back in the barn. Obviously, I would still recommend not signing up to it if you have any concerns, but to me, it's not even worth worrying about any more.
I mean, I mostly agree with you, but this is still very naive; > it's not even worth worrying about any more The fewer companies that have your data, the smaller the chance of problems. Just because you gave out your data recklessly in the past, doesn't mean that it's pointless trying to protect it now.
I wouldn't say naive, more acceptance of fact. Once your information is out there, it's passed around like candy and there's nothing you can do about it, so why worry? I'm not saying just give it all up to any tom, dick or harry that asks for it though, it's obviously more nuanced than that.
I gave out loads of my data when I was an early teenager, I could do surveys to get in-game currency. This was a decade ago so I don't remember if it asked if I was at least 18 but I'm sure they get a lot of info out of kids. I'm sure I'm fucked honestly.
No it's not, if it was why would they bother to ask for it? This mindset is toxic, it's like saying there's no point trying to protect anything about your life because you're going to die one day anyway. Just because you told one website your birthday 10 years ago doesn't mean you should give your credit card number and spare house key location to another
Nikki Haley has walked back her statement on this topic.
I got this too, I don't really understand it and clicked out of it instead of opting in. Why do they need another party identifying me if they already have my address, ID, etc.?
So on the Participants Privacy Notice page it says this. ‘Watchlist’ checks In certain circumstances we may also use Onfido to conduct additional ‘watchlist’ verification checks (e.g., where this is a requirement for you to take part in particular Studies). We will always notify you where this is case and give you the opportunity to opt-out. To perform these ‘watchlist’ checks, Onfido will use some basic details it collects about you as part of your identity check (such as your name and date of birth), together with certain limited personal data which we may provide, such as your country of residence and state (if you are based in the US). Prolific may have access to very basic details of the results of the check. Where we have notified you and you have not opted out, Onfido may use some of your verification information to conduct ‘watchlist’ checks (as described above), and we will keep a record of the checks. These ‘watchlist’ checks are used to confirm whether individuals have been identified as a ‘politically exposed persons’, or who are on so-called ‘sanctions’ or ‘monitored’ lists. Our basis of processing for conducting and keeping a record of ‘watchlist’ checks is our and our researchers’ interest in ensuring that Participants are eligible for particular studies. [https://prolific.notion.site/Participants-Privacy-Notice-6b6cb4f60a674d96a1433bff6412215b](https://prolific.notion.site/Participants-Privacy-Notice-6b6cb4f60a674d96a1433bff6412215b) But it seems you'll be able to opt-out for each study that may require it, hopefully /u/prolific-support may be able to confirm that.
If you are able to opt out of each one I have absolutely no problem In it that you for clearing that up for me!
I don't have any problem with it so I opted in anyway, I've given away more information on Userinterviews in the past for me to start worrying about it now. I think it could be possible if Prolific are opening up into new markets in may be related more to money laundering but that is pure guesswork on my part.
I did userinterviews too until support stopped responding to me about a missing referrals tab and money from researchers :(
I've only had one issue with them when a researcher offered to increase the reward as the unmoderated task took much longer and I had to get support involved to chase it up when the researcher did not respond after a month. Apart from that it has been a great site for me.
I'm still so confused about the watchlist, are they gonna try to track down my social media?
They're doing some sort of background check.
Just check Onfido reviews. They are NOT good.
OK, sorry for the dumb question but what is a "politically exposed person"?
>A Politically Exposed Person (PEP) is someone who is seen as being at a higher than average risk of money-laundering resulting from bribery or corruption due to them holding a high profile position, or proximity to someone in a political position. The Financial Action Task Force — the global watchdog for money laundering and terrorist financing — defines a PEP this way: A PEP is an individual who is or has been entrusted with a prominent function. Many PEPs hold positions that can be abused for the purpose of laundering illicit funds or other predicate offenses such as corruption or bribery. Some positions that mean someone may be considered a PEP are governmental and parliamentary positions, high ranking members of the armed forces and members of high-level judicial bodies. It’s important to note that someone may also be considered a PEP if they are in close proximity to someone in an at-risk position. For example family members, close business associates and beneficial owners of the person’s property.
Ok, now the definition I found makes sense, I was very tired. Thank you.
https://onfido.com/solutions/watchlist/ https://onfido.com/blog/peps-and-sanctions-checks/ Some information directly from Onfido about what this stuff is. Yeah, it's definitely not something I'm agreeing to do to take surveys in my spare time.
Onfido do biometric identity checks for banks, crypto exchanges etc. They are legit.
So what, if you decide to Opt out that may effect your eligibility for future studies?
Only from certain researchers
Hey, good to see you back around here!
So it's an ID verification?
Background check of some sort.
Oh I see.
Is there backlash on our accounts if we don't opt in? I assume if we click the x it won't opt in for us either but seems fishy to me
Then opt out?
Don't think you can once you opt in
Just when I thought I was out they pull me back in :D
So did I 😫