2026-02-24 13:57:23
Discord is stepping back from its association with identity‑verification provider Persona after a surge of user criticism over how the platform plans to introduce global age checks next month.
The instant messaging and VoIP social platform confirmed it had quietly run a small UK‑based test of Persona’s system — but says that trial has now ended.
In a statement, Discord’s head of product policy, Savannah Badalich, said the platform “ran a limited test of Persona in the UK where age assurance had previously launched and that test has since concluded.”
She added that Discord is “regularly evaluating vendor partners to improve our age assurance experience and expand user options while prioritising privacy.”
The backlash began after Discord announced that some users may soon be required to verify their age through face scans or ID uploads. Many accused the company of being unclear about how that data would be handled, with particular concern directed at Persona’s involvement. An archived version of Discord’s support page noted that UK users “may be part of an experiment” involving Persona, but the reference was removed around 15 February.
Persona CEO Rick Song later told Ars Technica that the company deleted all information collected during Discord’s test “immediately after verification.”
Concerns intensified after independent outlet The Rage published findings from three security researchers who said they had uncovered publicly exposed code connected to a government‑approved endpoint in the US, along with thousands of files that appeared to show a system blending facial‑recognition tools with financial‑reporting features.
Persona chief executive Rick Song rejected suggestions that the company works with government agencies and said the material in question “looks to be powered by an OpenAI chatbot” rather than Persona’s own infrastructure.
The code has since been taken offline, and Song is now in direct contact with the researchers who identified it.
Discord is now using the identity-verification provider k‑ID.
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