Discord is making changes to its age verification approach following criticism from users regarding its collaboration with Persona. According to a statement from Discord’s head of product policy, Savannah Badalich, the platform conducted a limited test with Persona in the UK, but that test has now ended.
Originally, Discord had indicated to UK users about being part of an experimental program involving Persona for age verification. Concerns arose over Persona’s data collection practices, including accessing personal information from various sources as stated in their privacy policy. Discord has since removed any references to Persona from its support page.
The situation escalated when security researchers discovered exposed code at a government-approved endpoint, raising additional privacy worries. The code, which seemed to integrate facial recognition with financial data, was linked to an OpenAI chatbot system. However, Persona clarified that it does not have government contracts and promptly addressed the exposed code upon notification.
Discord has now clarified its use of k-ID for age verification, distancing itself from Persona amidst the ongoing concerns. This move aims to address user privacy worries and ensure a more transparent verification process on the platform.
Source: The Verge