Facebook acquires ID authentication startup Confirm

Facebook is acquiring Confirm, a software firm that specializes in authenticating government-issued identification cards.

The Boston-based startup will shut down as both its team and technology will be rolled into Facebook, where it could help users who are locked out of their accounts. "We have agreed to be acquired by Facebook! This is the culmination of three years of hard work building technology that will keep people safe and secure online," Confirm posted on its website.

Without disclosing the terms of the deal, Facebook said that Confirm’s “technology and expertise will support our ongoing efforts to keep our community safe.”

The acquisition news comes amid raising concerns about Facebook’s limited ability to know who is buying advertisements, including election-related ads, on the world’s largest social network.

Facebook has more than 6 million different advertisers, and buying ads has historically required little more than a Facebook page and a credit card. Confirm says that its software allows for proof of identity for online transactions, allowing users to detect potentially fraudulent activity.

Confirm's previous clients include food delivery service Doordash that used Confirm's technology to verify its drivers, while Notarize used it to authenticate the identity of customers looking to file documents.