Discord rolls out age checks with third-party verification for restricted content

Discord has started implementing age verification checks for certain users worldwide. Beginning in March 2023, users may be required to confirm their age using an age calculator before accessing age-restricted content. The platform has partnered with Persona, a third-party verification service, to facilitate this process.

The verification process may involve users scanning their faces or submitting government-issued IDs. Initially, Discord stated that facial recordings would only be stored on users' devices. However, Persona later clarified that age verification data would be temporarily stored for up to seven days before deletion.

UK users appear to be among the first affected, with Discord's support page noting they 'may be part of an experiment' involving Persona. Some users have already received in-app prompts to consent to age checks. Upon successful verification, users receive a direct message confirming their status, which they can review or restart in their account settings.

Persona, the verification provider, has attracted attention due to its high-profile backers. Lead investor Peter Thiel, co-founder of surveillance firm Palantir, has faced scrutiny for his ties to controversial projects, including ICE's deportation operations. Despite this, Discord has emphasized data protection in its announcements, stating that submitted documents are deleted immediately after processing.

The changes will gradually apply to standard settings in regions like the UK, restricting sensitive content to verified adults. Not all users will face verification, but those selected must comply to retain full access to certain features.

The rollout marks a shift in how Discord manages age-restricted content. Users in the UK and other regions will need to complete verification if prompted, with data handled by Persona under temporary storage rules. The move aims to align with stricter content moderation while addressing privacy concerns through on-device processing and quick deletion of submitted information.