Privacy Concerns with Phone Verification - Need Alternatives

Make alternatives to the phone verification process and allow verification through:

1. Email
2. VoIP numbers

I have concerns in how Discord handles the phone verification process. I find it invasive and also vague in how user accounts gets flagged to undergo the process. When I asked for the specifics as to why my account was flagged for phone verification, Discord told me:

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.

Upon reading the policies in place provided through the Discord Support Bot, there are currently no alternatives to account verification, and phone verification restrictions can't be lifted. This process negates informed consent since phone verification is made conditional for regaining account access. In other words, one is given no choice other than to disclose their personal information in order to restore access to their account. Individuals make independent decisions to disclose or withhold personal information without retribution as per the right to privacy in Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

It's critical for Discord to safeguard and respect privacy, as users should have a choice in disclosing their phone number and any other personal information after disclosing their basic required info when signing up for an account (eg. name and email). In addition, users may not have a mobile phone to begin with. Users also shouldn't feel like they are facing an ultimatum in choosing between safeguarding their personal information and using Discord services. 

Discord assures me that the personal information is protected according to their privacy policy, but the issue is the principles of privacy, not just the protections in place for personal information. Consenting to the release of personal information beyond name and email should be a choice, not a requirement.