Discord Drops ID Check Partner, Appears to Still Be Moving Forward With Age Verification Rollout

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Despite rumors circulating online, Discord has not stopped or canceled its plans to begin age verification worldwide in early March 2026. If implemented as scheduled, all users will initially have settings designed for teenagers, and anyone wanting access to mature content areas may be asked to prove their age. The misunderstanding probably arose because Discord recently ended its working relationship with Persona, the company it used to help verify identities.

Discord is facing backlash as it tries to improve how it verifies users’ ages and ensures companies safeguard their personal data.

What Discord Announced

On February 9, 2026, Discord announced that it will automatically provide a safer experience for teenagers. This includes updated privacy settings, limits on access to adult content, and filters to block inappropriate material. To access more mature channels, servers, or features, users will need to prove their age.

Users immediately reacted negatively to the decision, questioning Discord’s commitment to data security. According to Ars Technica, in October 2025, hackers stole the government IDs of 70,000 Discord users through a third-party service Discord had used to verify ages in the UK and Australia.

The backlash grew after Discord revealed some users in the U.K. were included in a test run by a company called Persona, and their data might be kept for as long as seven days. This contradicted Discord’s previous claim that information would be deleted right away, leading to concerns about how user data was being managed. People also pointed out that Persona wasn’t publicly listed as a partner of Discord.

Discord told Ars Technica that the recent test with Persona is over and they’re no longer working together. They also said they’ll let users know when they add or change other services. Despite rumors, Discord hasn’t delayed or canceled its plans to start verifying users’ ages, which are still on track to begin in March 2026.

Why Discord is Doing This

Checking users’ ages is a straightforward way for social media platforms to comply with new rules in Australia (aimed at protecting children under 16) and the UK (through the Online Safety Act). While Discord hasn’t said these laws directly caused their recent changes, the rules do require platforms to protect young users from harmful content. If Discord wants to keep operating in places with strong age verification rules, they’ll probably need to implement some way to confirm users’ ages.

One of the biggest hurdles for the company will be selecting a reliable outside partner that meets both legal requirements and the privacy expectations of its users. As noted by Webpronews, the market for identity verification is expanding quickly, with companies such as Persona, Jumio, Onfido, and Yoti all vying for business from platforms facing increased regulation.

Now that Discord has cancelled its deal with Persona, it’s uncertain which company they’ll choose to satisfy U.K. regulations. However, with Discord promising more openness, users will be paying close attention to their next move.

The Dangers of Age Verification

A security issue in October 2025, stemming from one of our vendors, highlighted the dangers of gathering user data. While we promise not to keep personal information indefinitely, collecting it in one place makes it a target, and history shows that no security system is completely safe.

Many Discord users also appreciate being able to stay anonymous. Requiring them to link their real-world identities to their accounts worries them because it could open the door to government surveillance and make it easier for companies to collect and share their personal data. Essentially, users want to be in control of their own information – deciding what’s shared, with whom, for how long, and for what purpose.

The problem could be getting worse because the platform is responding to demands from governments. There’s a lot of discussion about who should be in charge of keeping young people safe online – governments or the platforms themselves – and how much protection they need.

What This Means for Users

If these changes are implemented, Discord users will have two options to verify their age: estimating their age using a facial scan, or submitting ID to a trusted partner. Discord assures users that any selfies used for age estimation will stay on their devices, and any ID submitted will be immediately deleted. Plus, you’ll only need to do this once, and your age group won’t be visible to others on the platform.

So, the recent Persona trial ending doesn’t mean Discord is totally changing its plans for age verification. If you mostly use Discord for things that aren’t mature content, you probably won’t even notice anything different, and you definitely won’t be asked for ID. I get why some people are worried, though – any time a company collects personal info, even if they promise to delete it later, there’s always a risk. But as far as I can tell, Discord is still moving forward with this age verification thing, even though there are still questions about how it will all work and how safe it is.

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2026-02-24 15:57