Discord re-launches age verification following backlash over privacy concerns

GamesIndustry.biz reports that Discord has relaunched its age verification system with alternative methods that avoid video selfies and ID scans. The new options include credit cards, the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, Google Wallet, and AgeKey, which Discord says does not share personal or private data.

The change matters because Discord is trying to thread the needle between teen-safety requirements and user privacy. Co-founder and CTO Stanislav Vishnevskiy said the company is moving to a global approach with non-biometric options, partly to get ahead of laws that could demand less privacy-friendly checks later.

Discord had previously planned to require age verification for all users in March, then pushed the rollout to the second half of 2026 after criticism over privacy and a lack of detail. The company now says it will publicly document every third-party age assurance vendor and has already published its age-group estimation methodology.

The system assigns users to Adult, Teen, or Unconfirmed based on account age or associated servers, without reviewing messages, calls, or other content. New accounts start as Unconfirmed until Discord has enough data, and users can still access the platform with limits while they verify in settings.