Fact check: What information does Discord collect for ID verification?

1. Summary of the results

Discord's ID verification system collects information through two primary methods: users can either scan their face using facial recognition technology or submit a photograph of their government-issued ID ^[1]. This verification process is implemented as part of Discord's age verification system, particularly affecting users in regions like the UK ^[2].

Crucially, Discord claims that the information submitted during this verification process is not stored by the company or any of its vendors after the verification is complete ^{[1] [3]}. According to the sources, face scans remain on the user's device and are not collected by Discord's servers ^[3].

However, the system has proven to be easily bypassed. Multiple sources confirm that users have successfully tricked the age verification system using photographs of video game characters or other people's faces instead of their own ^{[4] [5]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several important contextual elements that significantly impact the discussion:

• Regulatory context: The implementation of Discord's ID verification is connected to broader legislative requirements, particularly the UK's Online Safety Act ^[5], which mandates age verification measures across online platforms.
• Industry-wide issue: This is not a Discord-specific problem but affects many websites and online platforms that are implementing similar age verification systems ^[6].
• User privacy concerns: There is significant user backlash regarding the requirement to provide personal identification and facial biometric data to an American corporation, with users expressing serious privacy and security concerns ^[2].
• Technical vulnerabilities: The system's effectiveness is questionable given that it can be easily circumvented using fake images, raising questions about whether the privacy trade-offs are justified by the security benefits ^{[4] [5]}.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself is neutral and factual, seeking information about Discord's data collection practices for ID verification. However, there are potential areas where incomplete information could lead to misunderstanding:

• Scope of implementation: The question doesn't specify that this verification system is not universally applied to all Discord users but appears to be regionally targeted (particularly in the UK) and part of an experimental rollout ^{[1] [2]}.
• Temporary vs. permanent storage: While Discord claims not to store verification data permanently, the question doesn't address the distinction between temporary processing and long-term storage, which is a crucial privacy consideration.
• Third-party involvement: The verification process involves external vendors, and while Discord claims these vendors also don't store the data, this relationship isn't addressed in the original question ^[1].

The question appears to be seeking factual information rather than promoting any particular viewpoint, making it relatively free from obvious bias or misinformation.