Discord, what are you doing? The messenger started testing verification through a company that literally spies on people
The Discord messenger found itself at the center of a scandal due to testing a new age verification system in the UK. The platform involved the company Persona, but users were alarmed that its main investor is Founders Fund, founded by Peter Thiel. It was Thiel who created Palantir, notoriously known for digital surveillance and cooperation with the US immigration service.
As part of a limited experiment, some British users have already received verification requests, although Discord assures that the test is over. Persona, besides Discord, already works with Reddit and Roblox, helping them comply with the UK online safety law.
Critics fear that age verification will turn into total surveillance, and Thiel's involvement, whose name also surfaced in documents related to the Epstein case, only heightens suspicions. Discord insists that personal data will be deleted within seven days, and most adult users will not be affected by verification. However, a global rollout of the system is scheduled for March, and skeptics do not believe the platform has completely abandoned cooperation with Persona.