Backlash against Discord’s global age verification rollout intensified after the company briefly published, and then removed, a notice about a UK-based age verification test involving vendor Persona. The disclosure appeared to contradict earlier assurances about limited ID storage and transparency, according to Ars Technica.

One of the main concerns raised by users was Discord’s plan to collect more government-issued IDs as part of its global age checks. The issue drew heightened attention following a recent breach at a former third-party age verification partner that exposed 70,000 Discord users’ government IDs.

ID Collection and Storage

In response to criticism, Discord stated that most users would not need to submit government identification. Instead, the platform said it would rely on AI-powered video selfies to estimate users’ ages. That approach, however, raised additional privacy concerns.

Discord also suggested that behavioral signals might eventually reduce the need for age checks for most users. At the same time, the company acknowledged that users appealing incorrect age assessments would still be required to submit ID documents. That process mirrors the method involved in the prior breach.

Savannah Badalich, Discord’s global head of product policy, told The Verge that IDs submitted during appeals “are deleted quickly in most cases, immediately after age confirmation.”

Deleted UK Disclaimer

Further criticism emerged after Discord posted, and later deleted, a disclaimer in its age assurance FAQ related to UK users. An archived version of the page stated that some users in the UK were part of an experiment in which their information would be processed by Persona. It noted that submitted data would be temporarily stored for up to seven days before deletion. For document verification, the notice said all details would be blurred except the user’s photo and date of birth.

Critics argued that the notice raised questions about how long IDs might be stored and which entities were involved in collecting data. Discord did not specify what the experiment was testing or how many users participated. Persona was also not listed as a partner on Discord’s platform.

Discord told Ars Technica that only a small number of users took part in the test, which lasted less than one month and has now concluded. The company confirmed that Persona is no longer an active vendor and said it would keep users informed as vendors are added or updated.

Rick Song, Persona’s chief executive, told Ars that all data related to individuals verified during the Discord test has been deleted.

OpenAI Also Involved

Ars Technica reported that hackers identified a method to bypass Persona’s age checks on Discord. They also found a Persona frontend exposed to the open internet on a US government-authorized server.

The Rage, an independent publication focused on financial surveillance, reported that 2,456 publicly accessible files revealed details about Persona’s software. According to the report, the code showed extensive data collection, combining facial recognition with financial reporting features. It also described what appeared to be a parallel implementation designed to serve federal agencies.

Persona does not have government contracts, according to the publication. The exposed service was reported to be powered by an OpenAI chatbot.

Hackers further alleged that OpenAI may have created an internal database for Persona identity checks that spans all OpenAI users through what they described as an internal watchlist database. They suggested this could expand from comparing users against a single federal watchlist to building a broader user watchlist.

Samsung teased its next launch event with smarter AI features for its Galaxy S26 series, and we now have an idea of what that might be. The new and improved Bixby will let you control your device settings with just your voice.

Samsung has released the fifth One UI 8.5 beta update, which includes the February Android security patch and a revised version of Bixby. The company has now formally outlined the improvements to Bixby, describing it as a conversational device agent.

One UI 8.5 is expected to launch officially alongside the Galaxy S26 series on February 25.

Agentic AI for Your Phone

According to Samsung’s press release, the updated Bixby allows users to adjust and manage device settings using natural language commands. For example, a user can state that they do not want the screen to turn off while they are looking at it, and Bixby will automatically activate the “Keep screen on while viewing” option.

This approach is intended to simplify navigation through settings by removing the need to manually search for specific toggles.

Real-Time Web Search

The upgraded Bixby also introduces real-time web search functionality. This enables the assistant to provide current and updated information in response to user queries. Search results appear directly within the Bixby interface.

Users running One UI 8.5 Beta 5 can access the new Bixby features now. The beta is available in select markets, including Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK, and the US. A wider rollout is expected at a later stage.

Samsung announced that it has successfully completed testing of a key technology expected to play a central role in future 6G networks. The company, which is also active in telecommunications equipment research and development, conducted the test in partnership with KT Corporation.

3Gbps Download Speed

The companies tested eXtreme multiple input multiple output, or X MIMO, technology in the 7GHz band. During the trial, they recorded a peak download speed of 3Gbps using an ultra-high-density antenna system.

The system integrates four times the number of antennas compared to earlier designs without increasing the overall size of the equipment. Its physical dimensions are similar to previous generation hardware.

X MIMO Seen as Core to 6G

X MIMO is considered a foundational component for 6G networks. The 7GHz band is viewed as a leading candidate for 6G deployment because it offers a balance between network capacity and coverage. It remains within the millimeter wave spectrum.

As part of the test, researchers transmitted eight data streams from a base station to a user device. KT contributed its expertise in simulating real-world outdoor network conditions.

While 6G development remains in its early stages, Samsung’s latest test represents progress toward next-generation mobile network infrastructure.