Oppose ID Requirements for Online Platforms After Discord Data Breach

The recent data breach at Discord has exposed the severe risks associated with requiring users to submit identity documents to online platforms. This hack, which compromised sensitive information including selfies, ID documents, email addresses, and phone numbers of countless users, serves as a stark warning against implementing broad ID requirements for online services. Discord's recent policy of requiring UK users to upload selfies with ID for age verification has backfired spectacularly. Now, hackers are posting users' private data online, turning what was intended as a protective measure into a privacy nightmare. This breach underscores the inherent dangers of collecting and storing sensitive personal information, even when done with seemingly good intentions. The implications of this breach extend far beyond Discord. It raises serious questions about the wisdom of laws and regulations that mandate online platforms to collect and store identity documents. Such requirements, while often proposed with the aim of enhancing online safety or age verification, can paradoxically lead to catastrophic privacy violations when inevitably targeted by malicious actors. I urge you to take immediate action to prevent similar incidents in the future. We need legislation that prioritizes user privacy and data security, rather than mandating the collection of sensitive personal information. Specifically, I ask that you: 1. Oppose any current or future legislation requiring online platforms to collect ID documents or biometric data for age verification or other purposes. 2. Advocate for alternative methods of age verification that do not involve the centralized storage of sensitive personal data. 3. Push for stronger data protection laws that hold companies accountable for breaches and mandate stringent security measures for any personal data they do collect. The Discord breach is a wake-up call. We must act now to protect users' privacy and prevent future large-scale data compromises. Our digital identities are at stake, and it's crucial that our laws reflect the gravity of this ongoing threat. Your leadership on this issue is vital to safeguarding the privacy and security of all constituents in our increasingly digital world.