guess I'm done with Discord

2019 Aug 15

I'll let the E-mail ticket do most of the talking:

Hi, Today I received a prompt to verify my account with a phone number [1], which is the first time I have ever encountered this message in the entire time I've had my account (created 2017 Jan 09 according to my password manager). My account opal#6614 has a verified E-mail address (the one I'm sending this message from) and two-factor authentication. As I have mentioned in a prior support request, I use Tor to access Discord, both on my desktop and my phone. I refuse to provide phone verification as I believe it is Discord's fault for flagging my account even though I've never had an issue following terms of service. I do not spam, I do not upload content against terms of service (even though I disagree with the list of banned content), and I have never used this or other accounts to evade bans or other limitations. The reCAPTCHA upon login was insulting enough, and now being asked for a phone number is an even bigger spit in my face. The only thing I can think of that may have triggered Discord's crappy anti-spam detection, is the invite I sent to a user for my newly-created guild. That, and the fact I just so happen to be using Tor when sending the invite. Because, everything else about the invite was fine: I have been friends with the user I invited, and I did not spam the user (or any other users for that matter) whatsoever. Please make it so: 1. Discord's anti-spam isn't so anal, 2. my account (and other accounts in good standing and with proper 2FA) is exempt from such checks, and 3. I don't have to solve a Google reCAPTCHA for an account I have taken every step to protect against bruteforcing. Using Tor is not a crime; don't treat it as such. I'm tired of Discord's attitude toward things like this and I'll sooner abandon my account and uninstall the app if I am unable to access my account. I will recommend all my friends to migrate to a more suitable platform if this continues, too. I am not part of Discord Hype Squad for very good reason; Discord has shown to be hostile toward FOSS and privacy for a while now. [1]<https://pl.wowana.me/media/0bf9e6e5cb428f89596e9d217f281d4f054895c85a3450a5b7fb2d876e8f6bc1.png> Thanks, wowaname <https://wowana.me/pgp.xht>

reply:

Hi opal, Thanks for reaching out! Sorry to hear that you're walled out of your account. I just checked with my team, and upon review of your account, it appears that our system's detection system has triggered successfully and we will not be removing the phone verification requirement on your account, and you'll be required to register a phone number to your Discord account in order to continue the use of it. It's possible that our system detected that you were using a VPN or proxy that was shared with other bad actors, which is why our system flagged your account. However, for privacy reasons, we're not able to share the specifics of the inner workings of our system. I understand that you put privacy above all else, however, we won't be able to remove the phone verification prompt and you really need to use a phone number to get back into the account. Just a heads up, if you're currently using a VOIP or landline number, unfortunately, VOIP and landlines are not compatible with our verification system. Otherwise, if you have recently attempted to verify this number already, our system will put a timeout on a number from being used again for anti-abuse purposes, and unfortunately, you will need to wait for the end of the timeout to use the number once more or use a different number to verify the account. Sadly, because the system automatically detects and generates a timeout period when a phone number has been used multiple times to verify an account, there is no exact ETA for when the number will be able to used to verify another account. If that's not the case, let me know what number you're trying to register and I'll be more than happy to double check in our system. Best, Devemer

my reply:

upon review of your account, it appears that our system's detection system has triggered successfully and we will not be removing the phone verification requirement on your account, and you'll be required to register a phone number to your Discord account in order to continue the use of it. It's possible that our system detected that you were using a VPN or proxy that was shared with other bad actors, which is why our system flagged your account. However, for privacy reasons, we're not able to share the specifics of the inner workings of our system. I've been accessing Discord with Tor just fine for several months now. How in the hell is my account suddenly a threat to Discord? I understand that you put privacy above all else, however No, you don't understand. I will not give any phone number for verification. I am treated like an abuser of the Discord service, I am singled out for my use of Tor. I take this personally. If Discord blocks Tor, then clearly you do not want to see me as a user. I will do my best to find an alternate platform with a user interface my friends and other peers are comfortable with. Discord has never held a monopoly over chat and voice, and it never will. An alarming amount of your userbase is vocally unhappy with Discord just as I am, as I have noted from many conversations across several guilds. I've enabled 2FA, I rotate my passwords at least once a year, I do not engage in password reuse, I choose strong passphrases, I verified my E-mail. Discord will not bully me into solving reCAPTCHAs as free labour for Google, nor will it bully me into providing a phone number. If you or any other representative/specialist will not override this asinine "detection system" despite this abundant evidence that I am not a bad actor, then it's simple, I will leave Discord. I've tolerated all of Discord's other shortcomings without much protest, but I will not stoop any lower to remain on the platform. Unless you can refer me to someone who can look into this given the context of my account, this will be my last reply. I will be making this message thread public, in the interest of other current and potential Discord users.

in a nutshell, unless Discord has a change of heart and allows me access to my account, I will cease to use its service. chances seem slim, though, especially considering they shot down my suggestion to remove reCAPTCHA puzzles from the login form, even when 2FA is active on the account in question.

I will be communicating with a couple communities with which I'm involved to explain that I am unable to use Discord, and with any luck, we can explore user-friendly alternatives together.