Yeah ok guess I misremembered it a bit but I was curious too and found the previous one I've thought of: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43795406
Good eye! In this case, complaints are numerous. See a web search for:
openai persona verification site:community[.]openai[.]com
e.g. a thread with 36 posts beginning Apr 13:
"OpenAI Non-Announcement: Requiring identity card verification for access to new API models and capabilities"
But always good to be on look out for shenanigans :)