Discord ends Persona age-verification test after UK backlash

Discord says a limited UK test involving the age-verification vendor Persona has concluded, and it’s directing users to its broader age assurance approach as it rolls out safety and age-gating changes. Discord’s support documentation explains that the goal is to confirm whether someone is an adult when needed for access to age-restricted experiences and certain safety settings, while avoiding manual checks for most users.

In Discord’s announcement about its “teen-by-default” changes, the company frames the shift as part of a broader effort to make safety settings more protective by default, with a phased rollout plan.

What does age assurance mean in practice

Discord’s FAQ says it uses age estimation/age prediction to determine adulthood “with high confidence,” and that only a smaller share of users should be asked to take additional steps to confirm age. The same documentation explains that age checks can affect access to age-restricted servers/channels and the ability to change certain safety settings.

Discord also lays out data-handling claims in its own materials, including how it handles age confirmation flows and what information is retained or deleted in the process.

What prompted the renewed focus on Persona

While Discord’s official pages focus on the age-assurance system itself, multiple outlets report that the UK test involving Persona drew criticism over privacy and data-handling concerns—and that Discord later distanced itself from Persona as a result.

PC Gamer and Malwarebytes also covered the backlash and related security discussion, emphasizing what was claimed by researchers versus what Discord and/or Persona said in response.

What to watch on Discord

Discord’s support pages are the best place to track how age assurance works as it rolls out, including where it applies, what triggers an age check, and what users can do if they run into verification prompts.