Discord will require face scans or ID for some servers in March, raising privacy concerns

Starting in March, all Discord users must submit ID verification or lose access to age-restricted servers. The company announced in a press release that video selfies and identity documents are two available options. While the goal is to create a safe environment for teens, there are security concerns involving this sensitive information.

The impact of the new mandatory age verification

Without completing the process, channels intended for older audiences will appear blurred. Messaging features, including voice chats, will also be subject to blocks. The app plans to reroute DMs from suspected strangers to a separate inbox.

Not all Discord servers are age-restricted, so the news may not affect everyone. Still, if a community shares content intended for 18+ audiences, admins must add the restriction. Otherwise, the company monitors activity and could take action independently.

To remove some hassles, Discord plans to launch an automated “age inference model”. It’s unclear how effective this background process can be at determining a chatter’s status.

Discord has faced pressure to protect minorities from predators. To avoid lawsuits and bans, it’s preparing to implement the changes globally. The app already required additional verification in Australia and the UK to comply with new laws.

The blog post aims to reassure users about the confidentiality of personal details. Short videos that estimate ages will stay confined to smartphones or the capture device. The company claims that “Identity documents submitted to our vendor partners are deleted quickly— in most cases, immediately after age confirmation.”

Questions surrounding Discord security

Considering that those vendors were targets of an attempted hack, the pledge likely won’t convince critics. In October 2025, a data breach of third parties potentially exposed government IDs for 70,000 individuals. Full names, email addresses, and IP addresses were also at risk of exploitation by nefarious parties.

In the wake of the incident, Discord promised to add security layers to safeguard its members’ data. The new mandatory ID verification routines will test those measures when they go live in March.