Discord faces backlash over age checks after data breach exposed 70,000 IDs
Discord to block adult content unless users verify ages with selfies or IDs.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/02/discord-faces-backlash-over-age-checks-after-data-breach-exposed-70000-ids/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social
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@arstechnica but how do they know what's adult without reading every mess... ooohhhhh... Matrix is great, everyone should switch to that.
@arstechnica they wont reverse course because stealing data to sell it is more profitable than anything else
@arstechnica If compelled by law to age-verify in some jurisdictions, then why can't a site set one bit saying user Joe123 is a verified adult after evidence is provided, and then delete the uploaded information after a very short period? The people promoting these laws claim that the intent is to protect kids, not to eliminate all anonymity, so if they are telling the truth this should be ok.
@arstechnica yep, I'm cancelling all my boosts and telling friends to cancel Nitro. Discord needs to be destroyed.
@arstechnica It's bad form to ask for more personal and exploitable data to use Discord when they couldn't protect the personal data we'd already provided to them.
Perhaps it's time to find a replacement platform on which we can recreate our communites.
@arstechnica Yes but the point is to deny community and support to queer and trans kids while continuing to protect and support the anonymous trolls talking kids into suicide online.
They kept the poison free on purpose.
@arstechnica
I knew this was going to happen.