UK Discord users were part of a Peter Thiel-linked data collection experiment
Source: Hacker News
Image credit: Discord / Rock Paper Shotgun
Background
Discord has confirmed that it is working with Persona, an identity‑detection firm backed by a fund directed by Palantir chairman Peter Thiel, as part of its new global age‑verification system rollout. The collaboration is described as an “experiment” involving users in the United Kingdom, during which Persona will store user information on its servers for up to seven days.
Experiment Details
- Data retention – Information submitted by users is temporarily stored for up to 7 days, then deleted.
- Document handling – For ID document verification, all details are blurred except the user’s photo and date of birth, limiting the data used to what is required for age verification.
- Scope – The experiment applies to users located in the UK; Discord has not disclosed the specific objectives of the experiment.
Discord previously assured users that “identity documents submitted to our vendors are deleted quickly—in most cases, immediately after age confirmation.” The FAQ disclaimer regarding the experiment has since been removed from Discord’s support site (an archived version is available via the Wayback Machine).
User Reactions
Following the announcement of Discord’s age‑verification policy—already in force in the UK and Australia, with a global rollout beginning in early March—social‑media users shared screenshots of prompts asking for consent to Persona’s data collection. Coverage of the reaction appeared in:
Investors and Controversies
Persona’s recent venture‑capital rounds were led by Founders Fund, which valued the company at $1.5 billion in 2021. Founders Fund was co‑founded by Peter Thiel in 2020.
Peter Thiel is also a co‑founder of PayPal and a major figure behind Palantir, a data‑analytics firm that provides AI‑driven tools for government and military agencies. Palantir has worked with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and has been commissioned by the UK government to develop a patient database for the NHS, despite opposition from medical professionals. The UK division of Palantir is headed by a descendant of Oswald Mosley.
Conclusion
The involvement of Persona—and by extension, investors linked to Peter Thiel—in Discord’s age‑verification system raises concerns about data retention, third‑party access, and broader privacy implications. Users in the UK may be part of an experiment that stores personal identification data for up to a week before deletion.
References
- Discord’s age‑assurance FAQ (archived)
- Rock Paper Shotgun article on the rollout
- Earlier Discord statement on document deletion
- Bloomberg valuation of Persona
- Guardian coverage of Palantir NHS contract
- BBC report on ICE‑related allegations
- Guardian article on Discord privacy breaches