**Discord Delays Global Age Verification until Mid-2026: User Impact and Verification Methods

**"Discord pushes back global age verification till mid-2026 amid user backlash on proposed settings. 90% of users won't need verification, while methods f

**International News: Discord Delays Global Age Verification until Mid-2026**

- **Summary**

Discord has announced a delay in its global rollout of age verification, initially planned for March 2023, until the second half of 2026. The decision follows backlash from users over the platform's proposed "teen-appropriate experience" default setting.

- **User Impact**

Approximately 90% of Discord users will not need to verify their age and can continue using the platform as usual, as internal safety systems can determine the age of many adult users. The remaining 10% will be required to verify their age, with options for verification methods yet to be introduced.

- **Clarification on Verification Process**

Discord clarified that it does not require face scans or ID uploads from all users. Instead, internal systems use signals such as account age, the presence of a payment method, and server engagement to determine user age.

- **Controversy over Vendor Partnerships**

Previously, Discord listed Persona, backed by an investment firm co-founded by Peter Thiel, as a partner in age verification. This partnership faced backlash due to Persona's use of third-party data and government partnerships. Discord has since distanced itself from Persona.

- **Data Security Concerns**

In October 2022, Discord disclosed a breach involving a third-party vendor used for age-related appeals, potentially exposing sensitive data of around 70,000 users. Discord no longer works with this vendor involved in the breach.

- **Future Plans**

Discord plans to publish information on its website about each verification vendor and their data practices. It will also work exclusively with vendors that perform the age verification process entirely on the user's device.

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- **Sources**

[Discord Blog Post](URL of Discord's blog post)

[TechCrunch Event Page](URL of TechCrunch Founder Summit event page)

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