Fact check: How does Discord's face scan technology work for user verification?

1. Summary of the results

Discord's face scan technology for user verification is currently being tested in the UK and Australia, as part of an experiment to comply with stricter social media regulations ^{[1] [2]}. The technology allows users to verify their age through a facial scan or by submitting an ID, with the data used for verification not being stored by the company or its vendor ^{[3] [1] [2]}. The face scanning requirements apply to Discord users who haven’t previously verified their age, and will be triggered when users are exposed to sensitive content or attempt to change filter control settings ^{[1] [3]}. Users are able to retry the process or request a manual review if verified incorrectly ^[3]. The verification process is designed to respect user privacy, with options for facial age estimation or submitting a form of identification, and the verification experience is private to the user ^[4]. However, the face scanning technology has raised concerns among users, with some expressing worries about privacy and the potential for the technology to be used for other purposes ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some key points that are missing from the original statement include the fact that the face scan technology is not mandatory, and users can choose to upload a photo of their ID instead ^{[1] [3]}. Additionally, the original statement does not mention that the verification process is triggered by specific actions, such as attempting to change filter control settings or being exposed to sensitive content ^{[1] [3]}. Alternative viewpoints on the issue include concerns about the effectiveness and potential privacy risks of age verification technology ^{[5] [1]}, as well as the role of government regulations in driving this change ^{[5] [1]}. Experts believe that age verification is becoming a necessary step for online platforms, with the UK's online safety laws requiring platforms with adult content to have 'robust' age verification in place ^[1]. However, campaigners have raised concerns about the effectiveness and potential privacy risks of such checks ^[1].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be misleading in that it implies that Discord's face scan technology is a universal requirement for all users, when in fact it is only triggered by specific actions and users can choose to upload a photo of their ID instead ^{[1] [3]}. Additionally, the statement does not provide context about the potential risks and benefits of the technology, which may lead to an incomplete understanding of the issue ^[5]. The statement may also be biased towards presenting the technology as a necessary and effective solution for age verification, without fully considering alternative viewpoints and concerns about privacy and effectiveness ^{[5] [1]}. Discord and its partners may benefit from presenting the technology in a positive light, as it may help to comply with stricter social media regulations and reduce the risk of non-compliance ^{[1] [2]}. However, users and privacy advocates may benefit from a more nuanced discussion of the potential risks and benefits of the technology ^[5].