Discord postpones global age verification rollout
Discord has delayed its planned global rollout of an age verification process initially scheduled for March, following weeks of user backlash. The platform's co-founder and chief technology officer, Stanislav Vishnevskiy, announced that the verification system aimed at identifying users under the age of 16 will now be implemented in the latter half of this year.
Discord emphasized its commitment to complying with any legal requirements regarding age verification and affirmed that such measures will be integrated into the platform in the future. However, the company is currently developing alternative verification methods that do not involve facial recognition or ID scans. One such method under consideration is credit card verification.
Addressing user concerns and mistrust
In a blog post published on Tuesday, Vishnevskiy acknowledged the controversy surrounding the planned rollout:
"We knew this rollout was going to be controversial," Vishnevskiy wrote.
"In hindsight, we should have provided more detail about our intentions and how the process works."
He further noted that widespread skepticism toward technology companies and online surveillance has contributed to concerns about the purpose and handling of age verification data.
"I get that scepticism. It's earned, not just toward us, but toward the entire tech industry," Vishnevskiy added.
Scope and methodology of age verification
Vishnevskiy indicated that fewer than 10% of Discord users would be required to verify their age when the process is eventually introduced. Those users would face restrictions on accessing age-restricted content and would have default settings applied until their age is confirmed.
The relatively small number of users needing verification is partly due to Discord's existing internal "age determination" system. This system evaluates factors such as account age, presence of payment methods, server participation, and general account activity patterns.
Importantly, Vishnevskiy clarified that this internal system:
"does not read your messages, analyse your conversations, or look at the content you post"
to determine age. In response to user distrust, Discord plans to publish the methodology behind this age determination system prior to the global rollout of age verification.
Background and regulatory context
Discord, which reports 200 million monthly users, initially intended to default users into a version of the platform designed for individuals under 16 years old until their age was verified. This initiative aligns with new and anticipated regulations governing social media access for minors in jurisdictions including the UK, Australia, the European Union, Brazil, and various US states.
The company is also reportedly preparing for a public offering later this year.
User backlash and privacy concerns
The original age verification plan, which would have required users to submit facial scans, photographs, or government-issued ID to confirm their age, was met with immediate opposition from the Discord community.
One prominent user, Alastair (known as Eret), who manages a server with over 60,000 members, expressed distrust to the BBC:
"I do not trust them."
Many users are drawn to Discord for its ability to create private, invite-only spaces for communication. Servers on the platform facilitate text, voice, and video chats within these controlled environments.
However, Discord has faced recent security challenges that have contributed to user mistrust. In October, a cyber-attack likely exposed official ID photos of approximately 70,000 users collected during a prior age verification partnership.
On Tuesday, Discord reiterated that no images submitted during the upcoming global age verification process will be stored.
Additionally, online researchers recently discovered that Persona, a UK-based company Discord partnered with for age verification, had inadvertently exposed thousands of files on the internet. Discord promptly distanced itself from Persona, stating that the collaboration was limited and has since ended.
Growth and demographic changes
Discord's popularity has surged in recent years, particularly among online gamers who often stream their activities on platforms such as Twitch. The platform allows users to congregate, frequently under pseudonymous identities.
Vishnevskiy noted a significant increase in teenage users since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic:
"the number of teenagers on Discord has significantly increased."
