Online communication platform Discord has made facial recognition and identity document scanning mandatory for user age verification. While this measure is presented as a step to enhance user security, experts warn it could normalize surveillance, posing a significant privacy risk. Discord is especially popular among groups focused on Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, where users exchange information and ideas. Although Know Your Customer (KYC) verification is legally necessary for secure purposes, its implementation increases control over personal data and may pave the way for stricter future monitoring.
Users and privacy advocates worry that this move centralizes power—whether by governments, large corporations, or online platforms. Discord insists the change is unavoidable and aimed at protecting users, but concerns remain that collected data could be leaked at any time. As an alternative, open-source platforms like Fedi and Nostr have emerged, offering users full control over their identities without requiring biometric verification, thus prioritizing privacy and freedom from corporate control.
This trend extends beyond Discord, with social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram also expanding identity verification systems, increasing documentation requirements for online community participation. Consequently, Bitcoin and other crypto communities are migrating toward alternative platforms that ensure user autonomy. These developments mark a crucial milestone in safeguarding user rights and freedoms, aiming to preserve privacy and autonomy in the online world and prevent unnecessary surveillance by any platform.
Source: bitcoinmagazine
