Discord said it has concluded a limited age-verification trial in the United Kingdom involving vendor Persona, as the company shifts focus to a wider “age assurance” system tied to new safety settings.
In updated support documentation, Discord said the objective of its approach is to determine whether a user is an adult when necessary for access to age-restricted experiences or certain account controls, while limiting manual verification checks for most users. The changes accompany a phased rollout of what the company describes as “teen-by-default” settings designed to make protections more stringent for younger users.
See also: Discord to Require ID Verification for Access to Age-restricted Features
Discord’s frequently asked questions explain that the platform relies on age estimation or age prediction tools to determine adulthood “with high confidence.” According to the documentation, only a smaller proportion of users would be prompted to take additional steps to confirm their age, depending on the features they attempt to access.
The company said age checks may affect entry to age-restricted servers or channels and the ability to modify certain safety settings. Its support materials also outline how data is handled during age confirmation processes, including what information is retained or deleted.
See also: Discord Reports Data Breach at Third-Party Customer Support Provider
While Discord’s official statements focus on the broader age-assurance framework, several media outlets have reported that the earlier UK trial with Persona attracted criticism over privacy and data-handling concerns. Discord said the Persona test has ended and is directing users to its evolving in-house age assurance policies as the rollout continues.
Source: Discord age assurance update, Discord teen-by-default announcement, Discord support, PC Gamer, Malwarebytes