this post was submitted on 19 Mar 2026
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No Stupid Questions

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[–] TheObviousSolution@lemmy.ca 16 points 5 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (4 children)

From what I’ve seen, though, they don’t “have your data” as that’s not their thing.

That's what they claim, and yet people were able to hack their Discord age verification tech and discover otherwise. Where have you even heard this, because I hope it's not from ~~their CEO~~ anyone on their board, ~~He~~ Peter Thiel often goes on religiously fueled technofeudalist rants about the antichrist, the end of the world, and the justification for unified warrant-less mass surveillance of it all.

Oh, and: https://lemmy.world/post/44485368

[–] fonix232@fedia.io 9 points 5 days ago

While everyone is busy hating on Musk and the like, many forget that utter evil pieces of shit like Peter Thiel exist. Palantir is just the tip of the iceberg, he's been manipulating the entire digital ecosphere for nearly two decades now, with a well placed venture capitalist firm, grants for the "right" software and teams, while suffocating others....

[–] dev_null@lemmy.ml 4 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

That’s what they claim, and yet people were able to hack their Discord age verification tech and discover otherwise.

No, Palantir doesn't have any Discord age verification tech.

Persona, the age verification thing from the Discord hack, did store data. But that's Persona, not Palantir. They are different, unrelated companies. The connection is that Peter Thiel, the co-founder of Palantir, has invested money into Persona, but that's it. For reference he has invested in 97 companies. Just because one of them is a fruit juice plant, doesn't mean Palantir makes fruit juice.

[–] TheObviousSolution@lemmy.ca 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

They are different companies in the same way Cambridge Analytica and Emerdata are different companies. Who's one of Persona's biggest invester through Founders Fund is Peter Thiel.

This is such a basic tactic that it literally is used for tax avoidance: shell companies. If you think Palantir is not going to have their data, I have a bridge to sell you.

[–] dev_null@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

So you are telling me that Persona somehow became Thiel's shell company when he bought a 10% stake in it? What about the the owners of the other 90% of the company? How is a company that exists for 7 years and has tons of products and customers a shell company? That's the opposite of what a shell company is.

[–] TheObviousSolution@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

No, I'm telling you what I'm literally telling you. If you think Palantir is not going to have their data, I have a bridge to sell you.

Shell companies are what used for tax avoidance, the tactic is the same: work influence through separate companies also controlled by you. I am not surprised someone from the .ml is defending the worst aspects of capitalism by nitpicking criticism against them, take that as you will.

[–] dev_null@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Nobody said anything about Palantir not having any data, so don't try to strawman, of course they can have the data.

I said the identity verification tech was Persona, not Palantir. If you want to say that Palantir has access to Persona's data, be my guest. That doesn't change the fact it was not Palantir's identity verification tech that was hacked, which is what I corrected.

Please consult any dictionary on "shell company" and let me know how Persona fits the definition of having no assets or operations, and doing no business activities. Because it sure looks to me like they have assets, business activities, and are quite an active, real business.

Isn't the stereotypical .ml user a pro-Russian tankie? Why would they defend capitalism, they all want capitalism to burn, lol.

[–] TheObviousSolution@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I already explained to you what I meant. If it is not getting through, it is not getting through.

Isn’t the stereotypical .ml user a pro-Russian tankie?

It's the why.

A couple of Marxist-Leninist hardliners walk into a bar and kick out everyone else.

The bartender asks, «Какие темы должно продвигать это „Агентство интернет-исследований“»?

[–] glimse@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago

Small correction: Karp and Thiel are cofounders, Karp is the CEO and Thiel is on the board. And while Karp is just as bad, it's Thiel who does the Antichrist speech tours.

[–] Silic0n_Alph4@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Other commenters have addressed the Discord question - it sounds like that was a completely separate company and technology (just the same investors).

And no, I didn’t get any info from Thiel or Karp, and yes, they are awful people.

[–] TheObviousSolution@lemmy.ca 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Ah, yes, that completely separate company where one of the biggest investors is from a fund belonging to Peter Thiel. Completely separate.

[–] dev_null@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 days ago

Believe it or not, just because Thiel has a 10% stake in Persona, doesn't make it suddenly the same company as Palantir.

Did Persona pay you to shift blame from them into scapegoat Palantir or are you helping them for free?