To restore full access, users must undergo mandatory age verification – via document or assessment via video selfie. Previously, it was promised that the photos would remain on the device, but in the current experiment in the UK, Discord uses an external provider, Persona. Now the data not only leaves the device, but is also stored in the cloud for up to 7 days. Discord claims that the system only sees the date of birth and face, and all sensitive data on the document is obscured.
Distrust is reinforced by Persona's financial connections: among the investors is Peter Thiel's fund, the co-founder of Palantir, known for its cooperation with US government agencies. This is unacceptable for the Discord community, which values anonymity. Experts note that the company took a risk because previous verification methods were easily bypassed by teenagers.
The global implementation of the system is scheduled for early March 2026. Users who want complete freedom on the platform will have to agree to a week-long storage of biometric data by an external company.