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Online Age Verification Systems Create a Growing data Security Risk
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The increasing reliance on age verification checks across the internet is inadvertently creating a massive honeypot for hackers, exposing sensitive personal data to potential theft and misuse. Recent high-profile breaches at Discord and the Tea app underscore the vulnerabilities inherent in these systems, raising serious questions about privacy, security, and regulatory oversight.
The Rise of Age Verification and the Data trade-Off
A growing number of websites are implementing age verification processes, utilizing methods ranging from AI-powered facial analysis to requests for photo identification and verified credit card details. While intended to restrict access to age-restricted content, these checks necessitate the collection of ample amounts of personal information. This data,as one security analyst noted,represents “a veritable treasure trove for hackers.”
Recent Breaches Expose millions to Risk
The potential consequences of this data accumulation were starkly illustrated in October 2025, when Discord, a popular social media platform, suffered a data breach.While the full extent of the compromised data remains unspecified, the company identified approximately 70,000 users globally whose photo IDs may have been exposed. According to a company release, the breach originated through a third-party service provider, though the exact method of intrusion remains unclear.
Just months earlier, in july 2025, the Tea app, designed for women to share dating safety information, also experienced a security incident. The app, which requires both a photo selfie and photo ID for registration, reportedly had these images, along with user content and messages, revealed in the breach.
Regulatory Compliance vs. Data Security
These incidents occurred as Discord implemented age verification measures to comply with the UK’s Online Safety Act, which mandated age checks for websites hosting pornography and harmful content by July 25, 2025. Similar legislation, including France’s Security and Regulation of the digital Space law, the European Commission’s Digital Services Act, and comparable acts in the UK and Australia, are driving the adoption of more robust – and data-intensive – age verification methods, moving away from simple self-declaration.
The Perils of Data Retention and Third-Party Vulnerabilities
Despite assurances from companies like Discord – which stated its support website claimed it “does not permanently store personal identity documents or yoru video selfies” and that images are deleted after age confirmation – the breaches highlight a critical gap between policy and practice. The consequences of such data leaks are severe, ranging from identity theft and fraud to the potential for sophisticated crimes leveraging deepfake technology and generative AI tools.
Furthermore, third-party providers consistently represent a meaningful point of vulnerability.Recent breaches affecting the UK Ministry of Defense, the Co-op supermarket, and M&S demonstrate a pattern of cybercriminals exploiting weaknesses in these external relationships.
Calls for Stronger Regulation and Enforcement
The UK’s Department of Science, Innovation and Technology recently issued guidance emphasizing that age verification measures should avoid collecting or storing personal data “unless absolutely necessary,” echoing principles enshrined in the EU’s GDPR legislation. However, the breaches at Tea and Discord demonstrate a clear inability of regulators to effectively prevent data retention or enforce deletion, especially when third-party companies are based outside of national jurisdictions.
“These incidents show that the implementation and use of age verification requires genuine review,” a senior official stated. “Further regulation of data handling with enforcement powers-
