Starting in March, Discord will implement a mandatory age verification policy, forcing users to confirm their identity via video facial scan or provide an official document, or else they will lose access to servers and content intended for older age groups.
The company aims, according to its official statement, to provide a safer environment for teenagers, but the move has raised widespread concerns related to privacy and data security.
The new policy imposes direct restrictions on unverified users: adult channels will appear blurred, and access to messaging features, including voice chat, will be blocked.
Also, the platform plans to redirect private messages from suspected stranger accounts to a separate box.
Although all servers will not be affected, any community that shares content intended for those over 18 will be required to have age restrictions in place. In the event of non-compliance, Discord will intervene to independently monitor the activity and take appropriate action.
To reduce the burden on users, the company intends to launch an automated age deduction model that runs in the background, but its effectiveness in accurately determining users’ age is still unclear yet.
The move comes amid growing pressure to protect minors from exploitation, and as Discord seeks to avoid potential lawsuits or bans, it plans to roll out the system globally. It is noteworthy that the platform had already imposed additional verification measures in Australia and the United Kingdom to comply with new local laws.
The company tried to reassure users about protecting their sensitive data, stressing that the short video clips used to estimate age remain limited to the device used for capture. She also explained that identity documents provided to external partners are quickly deleted, often immediately after verification is completed.
But despite these promises, doubts still remain, especially after external parties were subjected to a previous hacking attempt. In October 2025, a third-party security breach compromised the data of about 70,000 people, including government documents, full names, email addresses, and IP addresses.
After that incident, Discord pledged to enhance security measures, which will be put to a real test when mandatory verification goes into effect in March.
