UK Discord users were part of a Peter Thiel-linked data collection experiment

8 days ago

Discord is collaborating with Persona, a Peter Thiel-linked identity detection firm, for a UK-specific age verification 'experiment'.
User data will be stored on Persona's servers for up to 7 days, contradicting Discord's earlier claims of immediate deletion post-verification.
The experiment has sparked backlash, with users criticizing the lack of transparency and Persona's ties to controversial figures like Peter Thiel.
Persona's involvement includes processing blurred ID documents, retaining only the photo and date of birth for age verification.
Discord's new age verification system, already active in the UK and Australia, requires face scans and uses machine learning, raising privacy concerns.
Persona is backed by Founders Fund, co-founded by Peter Thiel, who is also behind Palantir, a company known for government surveillance and controversial partnerships.
Palantir's work with ICE and the UK NHS has faced criticism, adding to concerns over Discord's choice of partners for data handling.
Discord's FAQ about the experiment was briefly updated but later removed, leaving users with more questions than answers.

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