Fun and games

2026-06-11

Transcript:

A comic in 4 panels.

1. A login screen with a drawing of a castle under attack. The heading: The Group Chat That’s All Fun And Games. Caption: To continue using your account you will need to verify it. There are two buttons: Verify by Email, and Verify by Phone.
2. A panel split into two halves
   • Left: An email: “Thanks for registering and account! Before we get started, we just need to confirm this is you. Click below to verify your email. Button: Verify Email”. Below, the program is insistently showing the login screen. This time there is no “Verify by Email” button.
   • Right: An email conversation.
     • From: alto@example.com. To: Support. Subject: I do not have a phone.
     • From: Support Team.
     • A lengthy reply in a rigid, monospace font contrasting the previous handwritten panels: I just checked with my team and upon review of your account, it appears our system’s detection system has triggered succesfully and we will not be removing the phone verification requirement on your account, and you’ll be required to register a phone number to your account in order to continue the use of it. It’s possible that our system detected that you were using a VPN or proxy that was shared by other bad actors, which is why our system flagged your account. However, for privacy reasons, we are unable to share the specifics of the inner workings of our system. On the other hand, if you’re seeing an invalid number error, would the number you’ve attempted to confirm be a landline or VOIP phone by any chance, or have you already tried to verify this phone number recently for a different account? If you’re currently using a VOIP or landline number, unfortunately, VOIP and landlines are not compatible with our verification system.
3. A panel split in two.
   • Left:
     • (A smiley face profile picture) An alt account #2847: I need some help with drawing. I’ve tried drawing people, but all I can draw are stick figures.
     • (A cheeky smiley face with a tongue out) Some user #2854: Are you like 5?
   • Right: A system message: Some user #2854 broke the rule for minimum age requirements. What This Means For You:
     • One or more pieces of content you posted was removed
     • Your account has been permanently suspended
4. A login-wall once again preventing the user from using their account.
   • (!) We need to verify your age
     • Use Your Id - Confirm your age by showing a valid, government-issued ID which is used for verification and then deleted.
     • See also: We are rolling out an experiment where data we said would not leave your device may now leave your device
   • In the bottom right corner a newspaper headline with a drawing of a hooded figure
     • BREAKING NEWS. Company says hackers stole government IDs of 70,000 users.
   • Addendum: The only way to ensure your data is not leaked is to not provide it to companies and organisations in the first place.

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