Discord Faces Backlash Over New Age Verification Policy Amid Privacy Concerns
Discord, a popular online messaging platform, is facing significant backlash following its announcement to implement a new age verification policy starting in March. The platform, which boasts over 200 million monthly users, plans to default all accounts to a 'teen-appropriate' experience unless users verify they are adults. This move comes after a data breach in 2025 exposed government ID images of approximately 70,000 users, raising privacy concerns. Discord's new system will use an 'age inference model' that relies on account tenure, device type, and activity data to determine user age without requiring verification. However, users may still need to verify their age through a facial age estimation selfie or by submitting a government ID. Despite assurances that identity documents will be deleted and not stored permanently, users have expressed concerns over privacy and security, with some threatening to cancel their subscriptions. 
