Discord is facing significant backlash over its new age verification protocols, particularly after a trial in the UK involving the vendor Persona. Users are concerned about the collection and storage of sensitive government identification data.
While Discord initially planned to rely heavily on government IDs, it shifted to using AI-powered video selfies for most users, stating that IDs would only be requested for age verification appeals. However, critics pointed out that this process mirrors the method used in a recent data breach that exposed 70,000 users' government IDs.
Further controversy arose when a disclaimer on Discord's FAQ indicated that data collected in a UK experiment with Persona could be stored for up to seven days, contradicting claims of immediate deletion. Discord has since stated the experiment concluded and Persona is no longer a vendor.
The scrutiny intensified due to Persona's investor base, including Peter Thiel's Founders Fund, raising fears about potential government access to data. Cybersecurity researchers also discovered that Persona's frontend code was publicly accessible on a US government-authorized server, revealing extensive user surveillance capabilities potentially linked to OpenAI.
Persona has denied any current partnerships with federal agencies like ICE and stated that investors do not have access to user data. The company emphasizes its commitment to responsible data handling amidst growing global demand for robust age verification solutions.