Discord has pushed back its global age verification rollout after many users raised concerns about having to share sensitive information like face scans or government IDs. The company, which had planned to launch the feature next month, now says it will happen in the second half of 2026. Discord admitted it missed the mark in how it explained the plan.
Many users believed the platform would require face scans or ID uploads from everyone, a perception that Discord’s Chief Technology Officer Stanislav Vishnevskiy admitted reflected a failure in explaining the policy clearly. He wrote that the rollout created the impression that Discord was requiring face scans and ID uploads from everyone just to use Discord, which he clarified was not the intended approach.
Privacy Backlash Drives Policy Reassessment
The delay happened as more people worried about privacy risks from digital identity checks. According to the Associated Press, Discord decided to postpone the rollout after significant backlash from users concerned about their privacy.
The AP also reported that concerns grew after a third-party vendor’s security breach exposed government IDs of up to 70,000 users. This made people even more doubtful about data protection.
Discord’s leaders admitted that users’ distrust is not just about Discord. Vishnevskiy said that skepticism about data collection has been earned by the whole tech industry.
Alternative Verification Methods Under Review
Even with the delay, Discord said it will still follow the law in places that require age checks. The Verge reported that these checks will still be needed in countries like the United Kingdom and Australia because of local rules.
As part of its reassessment, the company plans to introduce additional verification options, including credit card checks, and provide greater transparency about the vendors involved in the process. Discord intends to publish documentation explaining how its age estimation systems work and to offer alternatives such as spoiler channels to limit access to sensitive content without full age gating.
Majority of Users Expected to Avoid Verification
NBC News shared that Discord stressed most users will not be directly affected. The company said about 90% of users will have their age guessed from account activity instead of having to submit personal data.
Users who do not verify their age can still keep their accounts, but some features may be limited.
Vendor Scrutiny and Trust Challenges
The controversy has also drawn attention to Discord’s third-party verification partners. Persona faced criticism for allegedly failing to meet Discord’s privacy standards, though Persona disputed those claims and defended its technology.
In response, Discord promised to explain how its age detection systems work and to share public standards for vendors who handle verification data.
Rollout to Continue After Policy Adjustments
Although Discord has delayed the global rollout, it says the system will still launch after changes are made. Discord plans to update its overall approach before starting age verification everywhere.
This delay shows the challenge of balancing rules to protect children online with users’ worries about privacy and data security. It suggests that future updates may need to be clearer and less invasive.
