Fury Over Discord's Age Checks Explodes After Shady Persona Test In UK

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by BeauHD

February 21, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Backlash has intensified against Discord following its age verification rollout in the UK, which involved a controversial partnership with vendor Persona. This move contradicted earlier assurances of minimal ID storage and transparency. Users were angered after discovering that their government-issued IDs could be temporarily stored for up to seven days as part of an experiment. While Discord later claimed that most users would only need to submit video selfies for age estimation, critics raised concerns about privacy and the potential misuse of sensitive data. Discord’s partnership with Persona came under scrutiny after a recent breach involving a third-party age check service exposed 70,000 user IDs. In an attempt to reassure users, Discord stated that IDs shared during appeal processes would be deleted immediately after confirmation. However, this did little to quell fears, especially after the company bizarrely posted and then quickly removed a disclaimer on its FAQ page admitting to the UK experiment with Persona. The disclosure revealed that ID details were blurred but still stored temporarily, leading critics to question Discord’s commitment to transparency. Further concerns arose when it was discovered that Persona’s frontend had been exposed to the open internet on a U.S. government-authorized server. Hackers warned of potential vulnerabilities in Persona’s system, including the use of facial recognition and financial surveillance software. While Persona denied having government contracts, critics pointed out that its technology appeared designed for federal agencies. This raised ethical questions about how user data is collected and shared, particularly with third-party vendors like OpenAI. The controversy highlights broader concerns about tech companies’ handling of sensitive user information. Users are increasingly wary of data breaches and the potential misuse of personal details by third-party partners. Discord’s decision to distance itself from Persona and promise greater transparency moving forward underscores the importance of trust in digital platforms, especially those targeting younger audiences. As the debate over privacy and security continues, this incident serves as a cautionary tale for companies implementing similar age verification systems. In an era where data breaches are becoming increasingly common, the backlash against Discord’s age verification process reflects a growing demand for accountability and transparency. Users expect clear communication about how their personal information is handled, stored, and shared with third parties. The fallout from this controversy will likely influence how tech companies approach similar initiatives in the future, emphasizing

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Originally published on Slashdot on 2/21/2026