Discord’s Controversial New Age Verification: Scan Your Face or Submit Your ID!

by

Summary

  • Discord is testing a new age verification system in the UK and Australia in response to regulatory pressure.
  • Some Discord users in test regions may need to scan their faces or submit government IDs to access sensitive content.
  • The age verification results determine the user’s age group, with underage Discord users risking bans.

Discord is gradually introducing a novel age-verification mechanism, where users may need to scan their faces or provide a legitimate photo ID to gain access to mature content. At present, this feature is being pilot-tested in certain areas, and if necessary online safety regulations continue to develop, it could become compulsory for all Discord users.

In response to growing concerns about the safety of minors on the internet, especially in the UK and Australia, a new system for verifying age is being implemented. Traditionally, platforms such as Discord have depended on users providing their own age by entering a birthdate. Critics contend that this approach can be easily circumvented and does not effectively shield children from encountering adult or inappropriate content online, thus leaving them just as vulnerable.

The age verification process on Discord is now only in effect for users in the UK and Australia. When trying to access content marked as sensitive by Discord’s filter or adjusting visibility settings, these users might be asked to confirm their age. The system provides two options for this: either using a webcam or mobile camera for a facial scan, or scanning an ID via a QR code which enables users to submit a picture of a valid identification document like a passport or driver’s license.

Discord Users in Some Regions May Be Asked to Scan Their Faces and Submit Government IDs

After you submit it, the system automatically checks and verifies your details, usually finishing this task within a few minutes. You’ll get a message from Discord confirming your verified age group at that point. It’s important to note that this is a one-time process; however, if there’s an error in classification (like an adult being flagged as underage), you can either try the automatic verification again or request a manual review. If the system identifies a user as underage according to their country’s legal age for using Discord, the account may be temporarily blocked until the user appeals through Discord’s underage appeal process.

It’s not surprising that many Discord users have expressed dissatisfaction with the new feature, as it involves providing their facial data and/or official documents to the platform, which some find intrusive. However, given the increasing attention from governments on the online activities of minors, Discord may not have much choice in the matter. For instance, legislation was recently passed in Australia preventing children under 16 from using social media platforms, while UK regulators have mandated that all sites with potential adult content implement stringent age verification checks by July 2025.

Read More

2025-04-16 22:05