Discord Begins Testing Facial Scans for Age Verification

Discord has begun requiring some users in the United Kingdom and Australia to verify their age through a facial scan before being permitted to access sensitive content. The chat app’s new process has been described as an “experiment,” and comes in response to laws passed in those countries that place guardrails on youth access to online platforms. Users may be asked to verify their age when encountering content that has been flagged by Discord’s systems as being sensitive in nature, or when they change their settings to enable access to sensitive content. The app will ask users to scan their face through a computer or smartphone webcam; alternatively, they can scan a driver’s license or other form of ID. Discord is reportedly preparing to go public on the stock market, though those plans may change as the stock market continues to experience tumult amid President Trump’s global trade war. The company brought in more than $600 million in revenue in 2024, according to Bloomberg, primar ... Read full article.