Why I Don’t Use Etsy (For Now) To Sell My Products

Why (For Now) I Don’t Use Etsy – A Warning About Privacy, Persona, and Your Personal Data

Etsy, once a beloved platform for handmade crafts and small sellers, has evolved into a data-collection machine—often at the expense of your privacy. But it isn't their company itself... The real red flag lies in its partnership with a third-party identity verification company called Persona. So, to avoid this entirely, I sell exclusively on my website right here on my own terms, where I don't have to provide any of my private information or deal with AI models globally shared with China. That means all of my buyers, YOU can make purchases safely.

Until Etsy reverses their business contract with Persona and stops holding peoples funds from deposit, I can not personally do business with them. However, if this privacy intrusion doesn't bother you, by all means open up a shop with Etsy. This is simply my opinion based on years of boosting privacy and security protection for businesses and individuals.

The Real Cost of “Verification”: Your Face, SSN, and More

At first I thought it was to keep Chinese knockoff products and scammers with low quality products away, but after Persona, the quality got worse... When sellers (and in some cases, even buyers) sign up on Etsy, they may be asked to undergo identity verification through Persona. That might sound innocuous until you realize what you’re handing over to Persona:

• Full legal name

• Social Security Number (yes, the most sensitive identifier in the U.S.)

• Date of birth

• Physical address

• Phone number

• A government-issued photo ID

• And most alarmingly—a live scan of your face for facial recognition

Let’s be blunt: This is an outrageous amount of sensitive data for a craft marketplace.

And to make matters worse, if Persona's bots, yes bots, not people ever, arbitrarily decide to block your account, you never get paid. There is no customer service or reliable help easily found through Etsy. So imagine a bot telling you that you aren't who you say you are after giving them the most sensitive information you can, then closing your shop and keeping your money. Whats next? DNA sample, fingerprints, and retinal scan verification?

Persona Feeds Your Data Into AI Models

Persona doesn’t just verify your identity—they feed your biometric and personal data into AI systems. Their platform uses artificial intelligence to perform facial recognition analysis, document authentication, and behavioral analysis. In doing so, they build detailed profiles based on who you are, what you look like, where you live, and how you behave.

This raises a terrifying question:

Do you really want your most sensitive personal information stored, analyzed, and cross-referenced by a company you’ve likely never heard of?

And even more critically:

Can you trust that your data won’t be misused, hacked, sold, or exploited in the future?

Consent or Coercion?

You might think, “Well, I’ll just opt out.” But Etsy often requires sellers to verify via Persona to continue using the platform. This leaves you with no real choice if you rely on Etsy for income. It’s the illusion of consent—privacy stripped away under pressure.

The Big Picture: AI, Biometrics, and Data Brokers

We live in a time when companies trade personal data like currency. Facial recognition is no longer just a novelty—it’s being integrated into surveillance systems, law enforcement databases, and behavioral profiling platforms.

Once your data is collected, there’s no getting it back. It lives in cloud servers, machine learning algorithms, and third-party data repositories that you have no control over.

The Alternative: Me

I choose not to sell or shop on Etsy because I value digital privacy—and I believe others should too. For now I am remaining 100% independent and offer my privacy focused services to you.

Thank you for visiting.

I specialize in supplying security, privacy, and asset management products as well as consultations for both individuals & businesses. One way I accomplish this is through professionally drafted digital custom legal agreements, specialized contracts, templates, planners, and eBooks. These products save clients time and money so they can focus on meeting their goals safely and quickly. I focus on practicality and user-friendly designs which make my products straight to the point and effective.

Find me on IG @ReadyResourceSupply

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to message me, thank you!