Asger Risom
The biggest tech scandals don’t always start with a hack — they start with public breadcrumbs like certificate records and accidentally exposed developer files. That’s why an anonymous report about Persona’s infrastructure is spreading: it taps into a broader fear that ID checks are becoming powerful black boxes.
Body
Handing over a selfie and a government ID is quickly becoming the price of admission for more online services — including some AI tools. Now an anonymous blog post is pouring gasoline on that unease, claiming it uncovered signs of a “watchlist” screening system connected to OpenAI’s identity checks through Persona, a major ID-verification company.
The post doesn’t prove a Hollywood-style conspiracy. But it does raise a blunt question most people never get answered: what happens to your ID and selfie after you upload them — and who sees the results?
What the report claims (in plain English)
The blog alleges that Persona runs infrastructure that can:
- verify identities using ID documents and selfies
- screen users against sanctions lists and “politically exposed person” databases (public officials and related people)
- automatically re-check users over time
- generate compliance-style reports used in financial crime prevention
It also points to a Persona subdomain that contains the term “watchlistdb” — arguing that the name strongly suggests a database used for watchlist-style screening tied to OpenAI’s verification flows.
What we can say with confidence vs. what’s still a leap
There’s a difference between “this exists” and “this is being used in the scariest way possible.”
What’s credible on its face:
- Persona is a real identity-verification company used by major platforms.
- It’s normal in the ID-verification world to do screenings for sanctions, fraud, and other risk flags — especially for accounts that may be used for payments, business services, or regulated activity.
- “Behind the scenes” automated screening at high volume is a common industry pattern.
What the blog does not conclusively prove (at least from the text provided):
- That OpenAI is sending user data directly to the US government.
- That a user being flagged automatically results in a government report being filed about them.
- That this screening is happening for every AI user, in every context.
In other words: the “watchlist” idea is plausible, but the most explosive conclusions require more hard evidence.
Why the story is resonating anyway
Even if you assume the most responsible version of this setup, it still touches a nerve — because users often experience identity checks like a black box:
- upload ID + selfie
- get approved or blocked
- get little to no explanation
- no clear appeal process
- no clear understanding of how long your data is kept
That lack of transparency is what turns a technical-sounding claim into a mainstream fear: “I gave them my face, and I still don’t know what they did with it.”
What to watch for next
If this story is going to matter beyond internet drama, the next steps are straightforward:
- A clear statement from Persona explaining what the “watchlist” infrastructure is for, and what it is not for.
- A clear statement from OpenAI describing what checks are performed, what triggers blocks, and what recourse exists.
- Independent verification by reputable security researchers or journalists who can confirm the core technical claims without exposing private data.
Until then, the safest read is: this report is a loud warning flare — not a proven verdict.
Sources: Persona (OpenAI customer page), FedRAMP, FinCEN, The Wall Street Journal, Ars Technica
