Discord wants video selfies for age checks, but the recent breach has users pushing back
The platform confirmed that a “phased global rollout” was planned to kick off in early March, defaulting all users to “teen appropriate” views unless they prove they are adults. If you want to unblur sensitive media or access age restricted channels, you are going to need to check your age.
How the new system would work
According to the update, the verification process relies on AI technology. You will likely have two options:
-Let the AI analyze your facial structure via a video
OR
-Upload a government ID.
Discord emphasizes that the selfie data is processed on your device and never leaves it. If you choose the ID route, that information is checked off-device. In both cases, the company promises the data is deleted as soon as your age is estimated. Most users will only need to do this once, though some might be asked for multiple methods if the AI can’t get a clear read.
Why people are skeptical
The timing here is difficult. This global expansion comes just months after a significant security incident in October, where hackers stole the government IDs of 70,000 users. That breach involved a third party service Discord previously used for verification in the UK and Australia.
With that context, the community backlash has been immediate and loud. One user on a PC gaming subreddit summed up the mood: “Hell, Discord has already had one ID breach, why the f*** would anyone verify on it after that?”
Another user was even more blunt, calling the requirement “asking for identity theft on a global scale.”
When will the Discord age checks come into play?
If you were stressing about handing over personal ID just to hang out in your favorite servers, you can relax, at least for a few more months. The platform has confirmed that the new system is being pushed back to the second half of the year to address the serious concerns raised by the community.
It is rare for a platform to hit the brakes this hard, but the feedback was impossible to ignore. Users made it clear that the proposed changes felt like a threat to the anonymity that makes Discord unique.
Instead of a rushed rollout, the team is taking time to reassess the entire process. The goal now is to find a middle ground that improves user safety without asking you to sacrifice your privacy.
What you need to do
For now, nothing. Your account and servers remain exactly as they are. We will keep you posted when the new dates and details drop later this year.