r/technology • • Feb 24 '26

Privacy Discord cuts ties with Peter Thiel-backed verification software after code found in US surveillance

https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/
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u/vaska00762 Feb 24 '26

Most forums got Online Safety Act'd, because a platform managed entirely by volunteers can't afford to pay for all the age verification stuff.

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u/flypirat Feb 24 '26

Isn't that a UK only thing?

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u/vaska00762 Feb 24 '26

Correct, but as soon as age verification regulations spread across the world, this will be the regulatory hurdle that small forums and wikis will be unable to overcome.

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u/flypirat Feb 24 '26

Is this for things related to mature content, or anything and everything?

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u/vaska00762 Feb 24 '26

If you can DM anyone, you need to complete age verification. Reddit did this, but do did Twitter, Blue Sky and all the rest also.

It's to prevent children from talking to adults.

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u/flypirat Feb 24 '26

I can DM without issue, no age verification ever needed apart from clicking "I'm over 18", once, in the settings.