Discord is halting age verification after partner company proven to retain IDs
Behind a basic age check, researchers say Persona’s system runs extensive identity, watchlist, and adverse-media screening.
Discord recently explained they'll be requiring age verification through either an AI-detected selfie, or through ID verification. However, the service claimed these IDs would be "deleted quickly" (The Verge article).
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The verification was going to be done in partnership with Persona, a company that has recently been exposed to use its service outside the designated work environment, and quote "performs 269 distinct verification checks, runs facial recognition against watchlists and politically exposed persons, screens “adverse media” across 14 categories (including terrorism and espionage), and assigns risk and similarity scores." (Malwarebytes article).
In addition, "Persona collects—and can retain for up to three years—IP addresses, browser and device fingerprints, government ID numbers, phone numbers, names, faces, plus a battery of “selfie” analytics like suspicious-entity detection, pose repeat detection, and age inconsistency checks." (Malwarebytes article).
Yep. That's right! Persona was going to be used for your ID and selfie verification which Discord directly claimed would be deleted quickly, and yet it wouldn't be! Furthermore, by giving either to Discord for verification, and thereby Persona, you would be putting yourself at risk for all other social media you've used to be possibly tracked for terrorism and other potential threats to the US government!
Needless to say, Discord has halted the age verification requirement after Persona has been leaked with this information.
Do not give your IDs or selfie verification to ANYONE!! PERIOD!!
