Discord says ‘vast majority’ of users won’t see its new age verification setup

On Tuesday, Discord released an update clarifying that the “vast mostly of group tin proceed utilizing Discord precisely arsenic they do today,” without needing to usage a look scan aliases ID to verify their property truthful they tin usage the level without restrictions. Discord states successful the station that “age prediction” utilizing accusation Discord already has will apt beryllium capable for galore users:

However, successful the lawsuit that Discord’s property conclusion exemplary can’t accurately aliases concretely estimate a user’s age, they will still person to usage a video selfie aliases ID to verify that they’re an adult. Users who aren’t verified arsenic adults aliases wished to beryllium nether 18 will person a “teen-appropriate” acquisition pinch definite limitations, for illustration being blocked from age-restricted servers.

Some platforms, specified arsenic Instagram, YouTube, OpenAI, and Anthropic, already usage AI to “guess” the age of users connected their services arsenic they inch their measurement toward implementing property verification. Discord says it uses relationship information, instrumentality and activity data, and “high-level patterns” crossed the platform’s communities to estimate someone’s age.

Many users expressed frustration with Discord aft the level announced that it would commencement imposing an property verification requirement connected users astir the globe adjacent month. While immoderate claimed they’re going to time off the level and cancel their Nitro subscriptions, others raised privateness concerns. Last year, a third-party vendor utilized by Discord experienced a information breach, exposing personification accusation and a “small number” of ID cards uploaded to the level for property verification. Discord says it has since stopped utilizing this vendor.