Persona, Discord, and OpenAI: The Surprising Intersection of Age Verification, FinCEN Oversight, and Big Brother’s Watchful Eye

Discord’s new age verification system has raised concerns by using a complex infrastructure similar to that of financial institutions instead of a simpler method. Users must verify their age via selfie scans and ID checks, handled by Persona, Inc., a company primarily focused on Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) solutions. This gives the process a level of complexity that goes beyond mere age verification, incorporating 269 different checks including biometric features and watchlist screenings. Research revealed source maps indicating extensive data collection, including potential links to sensitive government databases. Critics highlight that while the intention is to protect minors, this system lacks transparency about active checks, leading to a significant imbalance in user-platform relationships. The reliance on a robust compliance framework could turn community interactions into heavily managed scenarios, raising ethical questions regarding privacy and data retention. This calls for a reevaluation of how digital spaces handle user verification.

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