Discord will require a face scan or ID for full access next month https://www.theverge.com/tech/875309/discord-age-verification-global-roll-out

[alextecplayz@techhub.social]

@gerenuk @verge "only adult content will be locked behind a verification wall, which isn’t something bad I think"

A noble idea, but the execution is abysmal, because lawmakers are lobbied by right-wing, conservative groups like the EPP (EU) and bi-partisan bills such as KOSA to basically implement a blunt tool, a sledgehammer, where only a hammer is needed. Everyone is looking for a magical solution to this that is unhackable, unbreachable, safe, secure, etc.

But the solution just isn't sending your ID to third-party for-profit companies around the world, which then at the some point end up in the hands of advertisers and hackers.

EDRi has a great article on the pitfalls and actual solutions that we can implement instead of this digital age verification bullshit: https://edri.org/our-work/age-verification-gains-traction-eu-risks-failing-to-address-the-root-causes-of-online-harm/

[pandacab@ni.hil.ist]

@woozle

I found at least 4, with various degrees of similitudes with discord.

Also, I have to point out the very obvious: you won't be able to leave discord and get the same thing. I know it is silly to point out, but in my experience, it is hard to really internalise for many.

@feorag @netskaven @verge

[woozle@toot.cat]

@PandaCab

Nobody's asking for identical; just similar-enough (...like Discord vs. Slack)

What are the 4(+) you found?

@feorag @netskaven @verge

[nullware@mastodon.social]

@verge I'll jump ship when the pop-up appears for this. We've already seen enough nonsense that shows how harmful this can be.

Unfortunately, moving on from these non-federated platforms is such a pain since you gotta either force people to move with you or forego that contact.

[pandacab@ni.hil.ist]

@woozle

I have to ask: what if there is nothing similar? This is what I mean by "not get the same thing".

I still have to try them but the alternatives I found (again, to be fair, I haven't tried yet) pumble, guilded, rocket.chat and mattermost.

@feorag @netskaven @verge

[woozle@toot.cat]

@PandaCab

Somewhere I typed up a list of my requirements (I can't speak for everyone); I'll have to dig that up..

Revolt does actually meet them all, afaict; the only obstacles are logistical/strategic.

I'm familiar(ish) with RocketChat and Mattermost, but was underwhelmed; I'll have to investigate the other two (thanks for the leads!).

@feorag @netskaven @verge

[nqd@minidisc.tokyo]

@verge@mastodon.social
I wish that the people on discord would actively switch to an alternative but theres nothing that is "drop-in" necessarily.
Everything is too hard for the normy to actually want to use.

All my normy friends will not care and just be slightly annoyed by it. ​​

[kriom@framapiaf.org]

@verge Discord self-destructs

[intelgraphy@infosec.exchange]

@verge Wooow... I'd have to jump ship soon then.

[azninsect@kind.social]

@verge strange optics considering they got hacked and this data got leaked for their UK users

[hackillu@mas.to]

@verge What?! Why do they always want an ID? Why can't they tell people to go to the DMV for once? Can't they at least make the surveillance inconvenient?

[inchulk@mastodon.green]

@verge I rarely use Discord, and don't like it much, so no loss when I cancel my membership.

[darryl_ramm@hachyderm.io]

@verge

Discord can fuck off.

[tobu@fosstodon.org]

@gerenuk @verge
Hacks aside, DHS/ICE/other arms of a fascist state will be able to tie community membership to identities more easily, over time this can lead to China style control over dissenting speech.
But even before that happens, Project 2025 just wants to treat LGBTQ communities/topics as adult only. Without decentralised, easily self hosted, numerous alternatives to discord, these vulnerable groups get the double whammy of being doxxed and of rejecting younglings that need them.

[sheislaurence@mastodon.social]

@verge @Bellingcat what's going to happen to your community then?

[bmebenji@mstdn.social]

@verge It’s a shame that #Discord is going away. Oh well. I haven’t really been using it anyway

[strawhousepig@mastodon.social]

@verge What is "full access"?

Shouldn't there be an age cap there instead? Like no one over 16?