Discord to Require Face Scan or ID for Full Access
▼ Summary
– Discord is rolling out global age verification next month, automatically setting all accounts to a “teen-appropriate” experience unless users prove they are adults.
– Unverified users will be blocked from age-restricted servers and channels, have content filters applied, and see restrictions on certain social features like Stage channels and DMs.
– Users can verify their age via AI-powered facial age estimation from a selfie or by submitting an ID to a third-party vendor, with Discord stating ID images are deleted immediately after confirmation.
– The platform is also developing an age inference model using metadata like gaming habits to exempt high-confidence adults from the verification process.
– Discord acknowledges the rollout, driven by international legal pushes for child safety, may cause some users to leave due to privacy concerns but expects most users won’t see a change.
Discord is introducing a mandatory global age verification system next month, a move that will significantly alter access for many users. The platform will automatically set all accounts to a “teen-appropriate” experience unless the user proves they are an adult. This change is part of a broader industry trend driven by international regulations aimed at enhancing online child safety. Users who do not verify their age will face several restrictions, including blocked access to age-restricted servers and channels, an inability to speak in live “stage” channels, and the activation of content filters for graphic material. Friend requests and direct messages from unfamiliar users will also be subject to additional warnings and filtering.
For existing members of communities now deemed age-restricted, the experience will be immediately interrupted. Those servers will appear as a black screen, and all messaging and content viewing will be suspended until age verification is complete. Furthermore, joining any new age-restricted server will be impossible without first confirming one’s age. This policy applies globally, building on limited rollouts last year in regions like the UK and Australia. Past attempts to circumvent these checks, such as exploiting a video game’s photo mode, were reportedly addressed by Discord, though the company anticipates ongoing efforts to bypass the system.
To regain full platform access, users must choose one of two primary verification methods. They can opt for facial age estimation, which uses AI to analyze a video selfie that Discord claims never leaves the device. If this estimate is incorrect, users can appeal or switch to the second option: submitting a government-issued ID or other identity document to a third-party vendor. Discord emphasizes that images of these documents are “deleted quickly , in most cases, immediately after age confirmation.” The company has also switched its verification vendor following a data breach last October that exposed user ID images from a previous partner.
Privacy concerns are a significant factor, as some adult users may be reluctant to submit sensitive identification. Discord’s product policy lead clarified that the facial analysis is estimation, not recognition, and that no biometric data or personal details like names or addresses are stored. In an effort to minimize disruption, Discord is deploying an age inference model that analyzes user metadata, such as gaming habits, activity patterns, and behavioral signals indicative of an adult, like typical working hours. Users flagged with high confidence as adults may bypass the manual verification process entirely.
The company acknowledges that the primary impact will be on adult-oriented content and communities, stating that most users will not notice a change. However, they anticipate some user attrition due to the new requirements and are planning strategies to mitigate this. The overarching goal is to create a safer environment by ensuring that explicit or graphic material is inaccessible to younger teens, aligning with evolving global standards for digital platforms.
(Source: The Verge)
