Discord Voluntarily Pushes Mandatory Age Verification Despite Recent Data Breach
8 hours ago
- #age-verification
- #privacy
- #online-safety
- Discord is rolling out mandatory age verification, affecting users estimated to be under 18 or those with insufficient information.
- Users may face content filters, age gates, and restrictions on messaging and Stage channels unless they verify their age via facial scan or government ID.
- Discord uses third-party vendors for age verification, claiming it will delete government ID records and keep facial scans on users' devices.
- Concerns remain about data breaches, as Discord previously suffered a breach involving 70,000 users' sensitive information.
- Age verification complicates online anonymity, potentially chilling speech for LGBTQ+ youth, abuse survivors, and political dissidents.
- Facial age estimation tools are unreliable, especially for marginalized groups, and may force users into appeals or additional verification.
- Discord's voluntary adoption of age verification, beyond legal mandates, raises concerns about privacy and free expression.
- EFF advises minimizing sensitive data submission and scrutinizing data collection practices when encountering age gates.
- Lawmakers and platforms are urged to reconsider age verification mandates due to privacy and accessibility issues.