Discord Distances Itself From Age Verification Firm After Ties To Palantir’s Peter Thiel Surface

Kotaku

by Zack Kotzer

February 14, 2026

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Discord Distances Itself From Age Verification Firm After Ties To Palantir’s Peter Thiel Surface

Discord, the popular gaming and entertainment communication platform, has severed ties with a third-party age verification firm due to concerns over its investor's controversial past. The company made the decision after it was revealed that one of the firm’s investors, Peter Thiel, had links to Epstein. This move comes amid growing scrutiny of surveillance practices and ethical concerns surrounding tech partnerships. The controversy arose when reports surfaced tying the age verification firm to Epstein through its investor, Peter Thiel, a prominent venture capitalist with a history of controversial associations. While Discord emphasized that it does not condone Thiel’s past actions, the association has sparked significant backlash from users and critics. The platform has been under increasing pressure to ensure ethical practices, particularly given its vast user base in the gaming and entertainment industries. Discord’s decision highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in tech partnerships. Users are increasingly vocal about the companies they support, especially when it comes to issues of privacy and ethics. For Discord, maintaining trust with its community is critical, as its platform is widely used by gamers and content creators who rely on it for communication and collaboration. This situation underscores the broader challenges faced by technology firms in managing their relationships with investors and partners. As scrutiny of tech ethics continues to grow, companies like Discord must navigate a complex landscape where even indirect associations can have significant reputational consequences. In conclusion, Discord’s decision to distance itself from the age verification firm reflects the growing importance of ethical considerations in the tech industry. For gaming enthusiasts and users of Discord, this move signals an effort to address concerns about surveillance and partnerships with individuals linked to controversial figures. While the

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Originally published on Kotaku on 2/14/2026