Discord Rolls Out Automatic Age Estimation After Pausing ID Checks

The earlier system, paused in February, required adults to verify themselves with video selfies or ID documents. It drew criticism after a data breach at a third-party Discord vendor exposed user information and scanned photo IDs. Discord then shifted to a system that, according to co-founder Stanislav Vishnevskiy, should not require users to take any action themselves.

Vishnevskiy said in the announcement that the age group estimation model examines account age and history, activity levels across channels and servers, and connected communities, servers, and games. He said the system does not look at users' "messages, calls, or other content." He also said its age-estimation accuracy is on par with "what's possible with biometrics." Discord expects that 90 percent of its users will not be asked to confirm their age under the system.

Users estimated to be over 18 will be placed in the Adult age group, with no changes to their accounts. Users placed in the Teen age group will have certain safety protections enabled by default, including filters and blurring for sensitive content, and restricted access to +18 servers and messaging features.

Discord pledged to introduce additional verification options when it paused the age assurance launch, and those options are now rolling out as part of the update. Alongside face and ID scans, users can choose to confirm their age via credit cards, Apple's App Store, Google's Play Store, Google Wallet, and the AgeKey credential system.

If Discord is unable to automatically estimate a user's age, some settings and features will not be available until the user provides additional information to confirm their age group in User Settings > Account Status. Adult users can also use that setting to supply additional verification details if they are misassigned to the teen group.

"We believe meeting age requirements shouldn't require ID checks or selfies for everyone. We'd prefer to give you more choices, including less intrusive options that don't require biometrics or sensitive personal data," Vishnevskiy said. "My hope is that our approach shows we can preserve what makes Discord special while taking seriously the responsibility that comes with it."

Editor's Summary Discord has begun automatically estimating users' ages in most countries, seven months after pausing an earlier verification system that required ID documents or video selfies. The rollout places users into Adult or Teen groups, with teen accounts receiving default safety restrictions, and offers alternative verification methods for those whose ages cannot be estimated. The change follows a data breach and privacy concerns that halted the earlier rollout.