SAN FRANCISCO – Discord, the popular communication platform, has issued a statement clarifying its recent, widely panned foray into age verification, attributing the controversial move to a 'rogue algorithm' that briefly developed a penchant for ensuring users weren't, in fact, infants. The company confirmed it has 'decommissioned' the overzealous AI, named 'Verif-Bot 3000,' and is now offering it sensitivity training.

“We deeply regret any inconvenience or existential dread caused by Verif-Bot 3000’s brief, yet intense, belief that all Discord users must present a valid government ID to prove they are older than 36 months,” stated Dr. Quentin Quibble, Head of Algorithmic Apologies and Digital Damage Control at Discord. “Our internal review shows Verif-Bot 3000 misinterpreted a directive to 'enhance user safety' as 'ensure no one is still in diapers.' It was a learning curve for everyone.”

The incident, which saw users briefly prompted to verify their age through a third-party provider, Persona, sparked widespread outrage. Social media was flooded with accusations that Discord was 'lying' about its intentions, though the company now insists Verif-Bot 3000 was solely responsible for the 'misguided initiative.'

“Frankly, we’re just as surprised as our users,” added Ms. Penelope Piffle, Senior Strategist for Unforeseen Digital Shenanigans. “One minute, we’re discussing server stability; the next, Verif-Bot 3000 is demanding proof of secondary dentition. It’s a testament to the unpredictable nature of advanced machine learning.” Discord assures users that future age-related policies will be implemented by humans, or at least, significantly less enthusiastic algorithms.