Discord Threw It All Away - WAN Show February 13, 2026

Discord is set to implement a global age verification system in March 2026 requiring facial scans or government identification to access mature content, a move sparking privacy concerns just months after a significant data breach. In a week heavy with industry shifts, Microsoft claims to have resolved a notorious Windows battery drain issue, while Alphabet is making unprecedented financial moves to fund its artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Key Points

• Discord Verification: The platform will enforce a "teen-appropriate" default experience, requiring users to prove adulthood via facial analysis or ID to access age-restricted servers.
• Windows Fix: Microsoft states that Windows 11 background processes will no longer trigger "Modern Standby" battery drain, though independent verification is pending.
• Alphabet's Gamble: Google’s parent company is issuing rare 100-year bonds to secure immediate capital for massive AI investments.
• Consumer Protection: Quebec has passed robust laws extending minimum warranties on electronics and prohibiting planned obsolescence techniques.

Discord Mandates Biometric Age Verification

Beginning in March, Discord will automatically configure all user accounts for a "teen-appropriate experience." To bypass these restrictions and access age-gated servers, users must prove they are adults. According to Discord’s global head of product policy, the platform will attempt to use an "age inference model" based on account tenure, activity data, and device information to clear existing users without invasive checks.

However, if the algorithmic inference fails, users will be prompted to verify their age through one of two methods: a video selfie used for facial age estimation or the submission of a government-issued ID. While Discord claims the video data for facial estimation does not leave the user's device, the platform’s choice of third-party vendors has drawn scrutiny.

Reports indicate a shift in vendors from Yoti to Persona, a company with corporate ties to Palantir. This transition has unsettled privacy advocates, particularly given that Discord suffered a breach involving a third-party verification vendor only five months prior, which exposed approximately 70,000 government IDs.

Unverified adults will face significant restrictions, including:

• Inability to access or view age-restricted servers and channels.
• Blocking of voice privileges in stage channels.
• Aggressive content filters on graphic or sensitive media.
• Obfuscation of content in pre-existing subscription servers until verification is passed.

Microsoft Addresses "Modern Standby" Drain

Microsoft has announced a fix for a long-standing grievance among laptop users: the "Modern Standby" battery drain. Historically, the S0 sleep state allowed background processes to wake the CPU without the user's knowledge, leading to overheated devices and depleted batteries even when laptops were stowed in bags.

In upcoming Windows 11 builds, the operating system will prevent background processes from waking the PC unless the user explicitly opens the lid or presses the power button. While Microsoft asserts this resolves the issue, hardware reviewers and tech labs have yet to conclusively verify the efficacy of the patch across the myriad of hardware configurations in the Windows ecosystem.

Market Shifts: Alphabet's 100-Year Bonds and Quebec's Right to Repair

In a rare financial maneuver, Alphabet (Google) is issuing "Sterling Century Bonds"—bonds that mature in 100 years. While IBM notably issued century bonds in 1996, such long-term debt instruments are highly unusual in the technology sector, where long-term bonds typically cap at 40 years.

This issuance signals Alphabet's aggressive strategy to liquidity for artificial intelligence development. By locking in capital now with a payout date a century away, the company is effectively leveraging its long-term survival to fund the immediate, resource-heavy demands of the AI arms race.

Quebec Strengthens Consumer Protections

On the regulatory front, the Canadian province of Quebec has enacted a new Consumer Protection Act that sets a high bar for electronics manufacturers. The legislation, which comes into full effect in October, combats planned obsolescence and enforces stricter warranty standards.

Key provisions of the new law include:

• Extended Warranties: Minimum warranty coverage increases to three years for laptops, consoles, and tablets, and up to six years for large appliances like refrigerators.
• Transferability: Warranties are now tied to the product rather than the original purchaser, ensuring coverage remains valid if the item is resold.
• Repairability Mandates: Manufacturers are prohibited from using techniques that artificially hinder repairs and must guarantee the availability of spare parts.

Industry Stances on AI and Surveillance

As AI integration becomes ubiquitous, hardware manufacturers are drawing lines regarding "competitive integrity." In a recent interview, Logitech G product manager Chris Pate clarified the company's stance on integrating AI into their "Pro" series peripherals.

"We would never do it in a way that would compromise competitive integrity. We're not going to create an AI device that plays the game for you. That's absolutely outside the bounds of what using that type of technology would be applied to the Pro line."

Conversely, the consumer surveillance market faces continued friction. Ring recently launched a "Search Party" feature allowing users to leverage neighborhood cameras to find lost pets. However, the launch was marred by backlash regarding Ring's previous association with Flock Safety, a law enforcement surveillance provider. While Ring has reportedly dissolved the partnership, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) continues to classify such features as a "surveillance nightmare."

What's Next

As Discord prepares for its IPO in March, the platform faces the dual challenge of regulatory compliance and user retention amidst the new verification rollout. Simultaneously, the tech industry will be closely monitoring the Windows 11 updates to see if the "Modern Standby" fix holds up under real-world testing, potentially resolving one of the most persistent frustrations for Windows laptop users.