(Photo by: Jasmine Mills)

How much personal information is too much to entrust to the internet? Your phone number? Your address? Your credit card number? What about your actual face? Digital turmoil recently ensued over this debate when Discord announced its global ID verification update that will go into effect in March.

In an effort to improve safety for underage users, Discord is requiring users to verify their age with either a photo of their government ID or a 3D facial scan. If a user opts out of the requirement, their account may be placed in a “teen-by-default” setting, limiting their interactions across the app. This update has caused notable concern online. Many users are worried about privacy infringement, data collection and security breaches.

Dr. Daniel Long, an IT professor at JCCC and Discord user himself, has his own misgivings about the update.

“The risk is that if somebody records your facial ID, it can be used for other purposes,” Long said. “They can use your ID to maybe get credit in your name, or to do other things to your accounts… There’s so many extremes that you can do if you’ve got somebody’s digital ID.”

A glaring issue for many users is Discord’s security track record. Last year, over 70,000 accounts were compromised due to a data breach. Discord has attempted to calm fears by stating that the breach was caused by a third-party interface that they have since cut ties with. However, many users are pointing out that the new ID verification and facial recognition scan is also controlled by a third party. Discord states that this interface does not collect data and that a user’s ID or facial scan will remain entirely on their device.

“I don’t believe that for a second,” said JCCC student Russell Sutanto. “I mean, we’ve been lied to before about, like, ‘Hey, we’re not collecting any data whatsoever.’ It’s like everyone knows that for a fact–they’re collecting your data. So why should we believe that?”

Discord states that this update is an attempt to improve safety for underage users, preventing them from accessing mature content. This comes at a time when there is mounting concern from parents about who their child may be talking to or what content they may be viewing online.

Belaye Turner, a JCCC student and long-time gamer, recognizes that there could be advantages to Discord’s update.

“I do think there should be some regulation. Of course, parents should always be as involved as possible when it comes to their kids,” Turner said. “But at the same time, there’s so many ways to hide things from parents.”

There is a chance users may not be required to upload their ID or provide a facial scan. In a press release, Discord stated they’re using an AI model to scan a user’s account history and estimate their probable age based on the longevity of their account and their interactions on the app. Once the model has determined the user’s age, it will then automatically update their account to either “teen-by-default” or above 18. Still, this has done little to relieve people’s concerns.

“It’s always scary when you hear AI’s involved,” Turner said. “I feel like there’s a lot of danger to using AI for stuff, especially giving it your whole face.”

Regardless of ethics, Discord users should be informed of the risks they may incur by uploading their ID or facial image into the app. Some may decide to search for alternative options.

“Discord is not the only game in town,” Long said. “People can vote with their actions, and if this is unacceptable to you, then don’t do it.”