Discord begins experimenting with face scanning for age verification

[Alfonso Maruccia]

In context: Discord has proven popular among both gamers and general users, but it's not without its flaws. The messaging and social platform has previously been accused of exposing children to abuse and graphic content by not adequately protecting underage users from predators. This has prompted the company to implement stricter terms of service regarding CSAM and other sensitive content.

Discord is currently running a limited test involving age verification through facial scanning technologies. The company confirmed that the test aims to "age-gate access" to specific spaces or features, while also disclosing how personal data is shared with third-party vendors. Privacy preservation appears to be a priority, according to Discord, with the test primarily targeting younger users attempting to access sensitive or potentially unlawful content on the platform.

The company stated that the data used to verify a user's age is only processed once and is not stored on Discord's servers. Age verification can be conducted either via biometric technology or through ID verification. The face-scanning solution used in the test operates locally on the device, meaning no biometric data should be collected or sent through the network.

ID verification, on the other hand, involves scanning an official ID document using the phone's camera. According to Discord, the scanned ID is deleted after the user's age is confirmed. The test is currently underway in the United Kingdom and Australia, both of which have become increasingly active in the fields of age verification and biometric identification.

In recent years, UK authorities have been working to integrate age verification technologies into online platforms and adult websites. Meanwhile, Australia has opted for a stricter approach, planning to ban users under 16 from accessing social media altogether – a measure expected to take effect by the end of 2025.

According to the BBC, these types of restrictive age-verification laws are not isolated measures, but part of a broader shift in digital regulation. Social media expert Matt Navarra points out that regulatory bodies are actively seeking effective methods to identify underage users online, with facial recognition emerging as one of the fastest solutions.

At the same time, Australia's approach appears to be favoring platforms based on their perceived value to younger audiences.

Services like YouTube, which may offer educational benefits, are likely to be exempt from the forthcoming age restrictions. Critics – including competing platforms such as TikTok – argue that Australian authorities are arbitrarily deciding which services to exclude from the ban.

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Discord begins experimenting with face scanning for age verification

 

[WhiteLeaff]

Nowadays Discord is like the sewer of the internet...

 

[Kotters]

Glad I don't live in the UK

 

[Anton Longshot]

I don't use Discord and never have buuut....
My PC doesn't have a camera.
IF it had a camera, would I let anybody TAKE A PICTURE OF MY ID?
Even I'm not thát stupid.
Are they crazy?

 

[NumberNine]

"Yeah just let us scan your whole face real quick just to make sure it looks old enough for what you're trying to do."

Time to self-host yet another replacement. I'd never let Discord scan my face but I'd let em scan my junk to extrapolate my age by the droop of my sack. Otherwise, what is all this computing power good for?

 

[human7]

The whole age verification thing is dumb. Platforms that are forced to (or voluntarily) comply with age verification will loose users, both of- and under- age, to platforms that don't do that age verification - illegally or otherwise.

The regulation of what content kids should be allowed to see or interact with online really should be placed in parents' hands. No, there's no perfect solution, but most of the proposed age verification "solutions" aren't much different (by analogy) than putting backdoors in encryption.

The idea that there should be a double privacy standard for kids and adults (one of the reasons some features might be age gated) is also a loss: if something needs opt-in consent and privacy controls for kids to use (and thus a reason why platforms would restrict those features), then the same consent and controls should be required for adults. People's data shouldn't automatically become "it's a product we can now sell, not someone's personal information" just because they turned 18.

 

[AlexIL]

Communism started with "we do that for the kids". Any dictatorship started with that mantra. Any evil attempts to explain itself "for the kids".

It is never about the kids.

 

[Underdog]

Curious how many will place this sort of thing under "the controlling of free speech" argument while living in a country where the government is now deporting its citizens for making anti-government remarks on social media.

 

[mountains]

I am not a user of Discord, but as others here have pointed out, we can't let facial scanning become the norm. Requiring facial scans with the excuse "to protect the kids" will endanger everyone, left, right or center. Any age verification needs to be non-user identifying.

I see that they are trying to make it as privacy focused as possible, but this is a behavioral slippery slope.

Stand up for yourself. We can win this one!

 

[Theinsanegamer]

This is the type of thing that should scare people. If you went back in time 15 years ago and told someone the UK was going to beat China to the 1984 dystopia you'd be called crazy. Just imagine another 15 years from now what the country will be like.

Curious how many will place this sort of thing under "the controlling of free speech" argument while living in a country where the government is now deporting its citizens for making anti-government remarks on social media.

I too wonder how many people are going to pull out red herrings to excuse the UK's actions. We're at 1 so far!

 

[Cocojambo13]

Whoever uses discord with face scanning should just get off the internet.