Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Roku

2026-04-01T00:17:38Z

Obieden: /* "Blocks Local Channels from an Antenna without Internet Connection (March 2026) */

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American technology company focused on TV connected devices and TV software.
|Founded=2002
|Industry=Media Streaming
|Logo=Roku.png
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Public
|Website=https://roku.com/
}}
'''[[wikipedia:Roku|Roku, Inc.]]''' is an American technology company, founded in October of 2002, known for their "Roku" line of products which consist of Smart TVs & streaming players. It is also the creator and maintainer of "Roku OS," a smart TV operating system released in 2004 that allows users to access streaming service apps.

==Consumer-protection summary==

====Privacy====

*Roku collects personal information such as the user's device information, usage data, viewing activity, and location data.
*This data is used for purposes such as providing and improving services, personalizing content, and targeted advertisements.
*Roku retains personal data for as long as deemed necessary.
*On many of their devices and services such as Roku OS, "Do not sell my personal information" is opt-out rather than opt-in.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Roku Privacy Policy |url=https://docs.roku.com/published/userprivacypolicy/en/us |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=[[Roku]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210034522/https://docs.roku.com/published/userprivacypolicy/en/us |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref>

====Transparency====

*The "Do not sell my personal information" setting on Roku OS is located behind many menus, making it difficult to find.
*Roku states the added forced arbitration clause was a decision made separate of the data breach. However, this has been met with skepticism by the community.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Toulas |first=Bill |date=11 Mar 2024 |title=Over 15,000 hacked Roku accounts sold for 50¢ each to buy hardware |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/over-15-000-hacked-roku-accounts-sold-for-50-each-to-buy-hardware/ |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=Bleeping Computer |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251206210456/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/over-15-000-hacked-roku-accounts-sold-for-50-each-to-buy-hardware/ |archive-date=6 Dec 2025}}</ref>

==Products and Services==
===Streaming Devices===
Roku's core products are streaming media players that connect to televisions via HDMI, allowing users to stream content from various online services. The lineup includes:

*Roku Express - Entry-level HD streaming devices
*Roku Streaming Stick - Mid-range portable streaming devices
*Roku Ultra - Premium streaming devices with enhanced features
*Others
**Roku HD (pre-2011)
**Roku HD-XR (pre-2011)
**Roku SD (pre-2011)
**Roku XD and XDS (pre-2011)
**Roku LT (models 2400X/2450X)
**Roku HD (model 2500X)
**Roku 2 HD

===Roku TV===
In 2014, Roku began licensing its operating system to TV manufacturers, creating the Roku TV platform built-in with Roku OS. Partners include TCL, Hisense, Sharp, and Philips, among others.
===Roku OS===
Roku OS is the operating system that powers all Roku devices. Key features include:

*The Roku Channel Store, which serves streaming channels/apps
*Universal search across multiple streaming services
*Voice control capabilities
*The free, ad-supported Roku Channel
*Customizable home screen interface

===Audio Products===

*Roku Streambar - Combines a soundbar with a streaming player
*Roku Wireless Speakers - Designed specifically for Roku TV systems
*Roku Wireless Subwoofer - For enhanced bass response

===Content and Advertising===
The Roku Channel is the company's own ad-supported streaming service, offering free movies, TV shows, and some original content. Roku also operates an advertising business that serves as a significant revenue source, placing ads across its platform.

==Consumer-protection incidents==

===Over the AIR channels unreachable without internet access (Jan. 2026)===
A change caused over the air (OTA) channels via antenna to be unreachable when the TV does not have internet access. [https://support.roku.com/article/228844467#section-0 Roku TV OS version 15.0] combined the OTA broadcasts live TV guide with free streams from The Roku Channel. Roku [https://cordcuttersnews.com/roku-no-longer-lets-you-watch-free-ota-tv-from-abc-cbs-fox-nbc-with-an-antenna-unless-you-also-have-a-working-internet-connect-on-roku-tvs/ claims this is a bug] that will be fixed in a future update.

===Auto-playing Ads Before Home Screen (Mar. 2025)===
In March 2025, reports surfaced that Roku was testing a new advertising feature that plays video ads before users could access the Roku OS home screen.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Harding |first=Scharon |date=17 March 2025 |title=“Awful”: Roku tests autoplaying ads loading before the home screen |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/roku-says-unpopular-autoplay-ads-are-just-a-test/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318004112/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/roku-says-unpopular-autoplay-ads-are-just-a-test/ |archive-date=18 March 2025 |access-date=18 March 2025 |work=arstechnica}}</ref> Users reported that when turning on their Roku TV or streaming device, they were met with a video advertisement — often for the movie ''Moana 2'' — before reaching the home screen.<ref name=":3" /> While some users found an option to skip the ad, others claimed that there was no clear way to bypass it.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Herbig |first=Daniel |date=18 March 2025 |title=Roku zeigt Werbung, bevor man überhaupt zum Homescreen kommt |url=https://www.heise.de/news/Roku-zeigt-Werbung-bevor-man-ueberhaupt-zum-Homescreen-kommt-10318983.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318081622/https://www.heise.de/news/Roku-zeigt-Werbung-bevor-man-ueberhaupt-zum-Homescreen-kommt-10318983.html |archive-date=18 March 2025 |access-date=18 March 2025 |work=heise online}}</ref>

A Roku spokesperson confirmed that the autoplaying ads were part of a temporary test but did not specify whether they would become a permanent feature. The company stated that its business model relies on continuous testing and innovation in advertising but did not address customer concerns or backlash.<ref name=":3" /> Many users expressed dissatisfaction, with some stating they would stop using Roku devices if this feature were permanently implemented. Community discussions and forum posts described the ads as "unacceptable" and "intrusive."<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />

Roku has previously been known for pushing the boundaries on advertising, including filing a patent for technology that could overlay ads on third-party devices connected to a Roku TV. While this patent has not yet been implemented, the new auto-playing ads suggest Roku is continuing to expand their advertising strategies.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />

===Post-Purchase EULA Modification (Mar. 2024)===
[[File:Roku forced arbitration notice.jpg|thumb|510x510px|The screen in which consumers agreed to force arbitration. There is no "disagree."<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Jared |date=7 Mar 2024 |title=Roku’s forced arbitration update leaves users fuming |url=https://www.techhive.com/article/2258136/rokus-forced-arbitration-update-leaves-users-fuming.html |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=TechHive |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251223223437/https://www.techhive.com/article/2258136/rokus-forced-arbitration-update-leaves-users-fuming.html |archive-date=23 Dec 2025}}</ref>]]
In early March 2024, Roku Inc. [[Post-purchase EULA modification|modified]] its [[End-user license agreement]] (EULA), after the company disclosed a data breach that affected 15,000 accounts.<ref name=":2" /> In April 2024, Roku disclosed another incident that affected 576,000 additional accounts.<ref name=":1" />

This new EULA was enforced onto pre-existing users in the form of a message on their Smart TV or streaming player, which allowed the user to accept the new terms but did not offer an option to decline. The only option Roku Inc. offered to opt-out of the new EULA was for the user to mail the company their contact information that was used to register the Roku account (if applicable), along with the product model, software, or service "at issue." In this new EULA, Roku included a [[forced arbitration]] agreement to not allow users to sue or take part in lawsuits against Roku Inc.<ref name=":0" /> Roku claimed a week later that the new EULA was not in relation to the aforementioned data breach.

==="HDMI-customized ad insertion" patent (Oct. 2023)===
In early October 2023, Roku filed a patent ([https://patents.google.com/patent/US20230388589A1/en US20230388589A1]) for a program to insert ads on top of the display output of any non-Roku device displayed on a Roku TV. This program would be able to detect when the consumer has paused a video feed and display an advertisement, and it would be personalized by data collected through Roku services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 Dec 2024 |title=Hdmi customized ad insertion |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US20230388589A1/en |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=Google Patents |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251216065411/https://patents.google.com/patent/US20230388589A1/en |archive-date=16 Dec 2025}}</ref>

As of January 2025, this patent has not been implemented into any Roku devices. However, a similar feature which also detects content from connected devices, called "More Ways to Watch," has previously been implemented.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to use More Ways to Watch on your Roku TV |url=https://support.roku.com/article/115005739288 |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=Roku Support |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251114082909/https://support.roku.com/article/115005739288 |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Katzmaier |first=David |date=11 Apr 2017 |title=Roku TVs now track what you watch to suggest streams, target ads |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/roku-tvs-now-track-what-you-watch-to-suggest-streams-target-ads/ |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=CNET |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260208062725/https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/roku-tvs-now-track-what-you-watch-to-suggest-streams-target-ads/ |archive-date=8 Feb 2026}}</ref>
==="Blocks Local Channels from an Antenna without Internet Connection (March 2026)===
On March 23rd 2026 , Roku had begun to block local tv through atena by forcing a internet connection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bouma |first=Luke |date=03/23/2026 |title=Roku Announces A Fix To A Major Bug That Made Using Your Antenna For Free ABC, CBS, FOX, & NBC Impossible Without Internet |url=https://cordcuttersnews.com/roku-announces-a-fix-to-a-major-bug-that-made-using-your-antenna-for-free-abc-cbs-fox-nbc-impossible-without-internet/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Atenna Man's [https://youtu.be/xmk919QxKvo?si=GD0ILferXkLbumMD Video] also explains it

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Companies]]
[[Category:Companies using forced arbitration clauses]]

Roku

2026-04-01T00:14:47Z

Obieden: /* "HDMI-customized ad insertion" patent (Oct. 2023) */

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American technology company focused on TV connected devices and TV software.
|Founded=2002
|Industry=Media Streaming
|Logo=Roku.png
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Public
|Website=https://roku.com/
}}
'''[[wikipedia:Roku|Roku, Inc.]]''' is an American technology company, founded in October of 2002, known for their "Roku" line of products which consist of Smart TVs & streaming players. It is also the creator and maintainer of "Roku OS," a smart TV operating system released in 2004 that allows users to access streaming service apps.

==Consumer-protection summary==

====Privacy====

*Roku collects personal information such as the user's device information, usage data, viewing activity, and location data.
*This data is used for purposes such as providing and improving services, personalizing content, and targeted advertisements.
*Roku retains personal data for as long as deemed necessary.
*On many of their devices and services such as Roku OS, "Do not sell my personal information" is opt-out rather than opt-in.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Roku Privacy Policy |url=https://docs.roku.com/published/userprivacypolicy/en/us |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=[[Roku]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210034522/https://docs.roku.com/published/userprivacypolicy/en/us |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref>

====Transparency====

*The "Do not sell my personal information" setting on Roku OS is located behind many menus, making it difficult to find.
*Roku states the added forced arbitration clause was a decision made separate of the data breach. However, this has been met with skepticism by the community.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Toulas |first=Bill |date=11 Mar 2024 |title=Over 15,000 hacked Roku accounts sold for 50¢ each to buy hardware |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/over-15-000-hacked-roku-accounts-sold-for-50-each-to-buy-hardware/ |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=Bleeping Computer |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251206210456/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/over-15-000-hacked-roku-accounts-sold-for-50-each-to-buy-hardware/ |archive-date=6 Dec 2025}}</ref>

==Products and Services==
===Streaming Devices===
Roku's core products are streaming media players that connect to televisions via HDMI, allowing users to stream content from various online services. The lineup includes:

*Roku Express - Entry-level HD streaming devices
*Roku Streaming Stick - Mid-range portable streaming devices
*Roku Ultra - Premium streaming devices with enhanced features
*Others
**Roku HD (pre-2011)
**Roku HD-XR (pre-2011)
**Roku SD (pre-2011)
**Roku XD and XDS (pre-2011)
**Roku LT (models 2400X/2450X)
**Roku HD (model 2500X)
**Roku 2 HD

===Roku TV===
In 2014, Roku began licensing its operating system to TV manufacturers, creating the Roku TV platform built-in with Roku OS. Partners include TCL, Hisense, Sharp, and Philips, among others.
===Roku OS===
Roku OS is the operating system that powers all Roku devices. Key features include:

*The Roku Channel Store, which serves streaming channels/apps
*Universal search across multiple streaming services
*Voice control capabilities
*The free, ad-supported Roku Channel
*Customizable home screen interface

===Audio Products===

*Roku Streambar - Combines a soundbar with a streaming player
*Roku Wireless Speakers - Designed specifically for Roku TV systems
*Roku Wireless Subwoofer - For enhanced bass response

===Content and Advertising===
The Roku Channel is the company's own ad-supported streaming service, offering free movies, TV shows, and some original content. Roku also operates an advertising business that serves as a significant revenue source, placing ads across its platform.

==Consumer-protection incidents==

=== Over the AIR channels unreachable without internet access (Jan. 2026) ===
A change caused over the air (OTA) channels via antenna to be unreachable when the TV does not have internet access. [https://support.roku.com/article/228844467#section-0 Roku TV OS version 15.0] combined the OTA broadcasts live TV guide with free streams from The Roku Channel. Roku [https://cordcuttersnews.com/roku-no-longer-lets-you-watch-free-ota-tv-from-abc-cbs-fox-nbc-with-an-antenna-unless-you-also-have-a-working-internet-connect-on-roku-tvs/ claims this is a bug] that will be fixed in a future update.

===Auto-playing Ads Before Home Screen (Mar. 2025)===
In March 2025, reports surfaced that Roku was testing a new advertising feature that plays video ads before users could access the Roku OS home screen.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Harding |first=Scharon |date=17 March 2025 |title=“Awful”: Roku tests autoplaying ads loading before the home screen |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/roku-says-unpopular-autoplay-ads-are-just-a-test/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318004112/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/roku-says-unpopular-autoplay-ads-are-just-a-test/ |archive-date=18 March 2025 |access-date=18 March 2025 |work=arstechnica}}</ref> Users reported that when turning on their Roku TV or streaming device, they were met with a video advertisement — often for the movie ''Moana 2'' — before reaching the home screen.<ref name=":3" /> While some users found an option to skip the ad, others claimed that there was no clear way to bypass it.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Herbig |first=Daniel |date=18 March 2025 |title=Roku zeigt Werbung, bevor man überhaupt zum Homescreen kommt |url=https://www.heise.de/news/Roku-zeigt-Werbung-bevor-man-ueberhaupt-zum-Homescreen-kommt-10318983.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318081622/https://www.heise.de/news/Roku-zeigt-Werbung-bevor-man-ueberhaupt-zum-Homescreen-kommt-10318983.html |archive-date=18 March 2025 |access-date=18 March 2025 |work=heise online}}</ref>

A Roku spokesperson confirmed that the autoplaying ads were part of a temporary test but did not specify whether they would become a permanent feature. The company stated that its business model relies on continuous testing and innovation in advertising but did not address customer concerns or backlash.<ref name=":3" /> Many users expressed dissatisfaction, with some stating they would stop using Roku devices if this feature were permanently implemented. Community discussions and forum posts described the ads as "unacceptable" and "intrusive."<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />

Roku has previously been known for pushing the boundaries on advertising, including filing a patent for technology that could overlay ads on third-party devices connected to a Roku TV. While this patent has not yet been implemented, the new auto-playing ads suggest Roku is continuing to expand their advertising strategies.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />

===Post-Purchase EULA Modification (Mar. 2024)===
[[File:Roku forced arbitration notice.jpg|thumb|510x510px|The screen in which consumers agreed to force arbitration. There is no "disagree."<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Jared |date=7 Mar 2024 |title=Roku’s forced arbitration update leaves users fuming |url=https://www.techhive.com/article/2258136/rokus-forced-arbitration-update-leaves-users-fuming.html |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=TechHive |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251223223437/https://www.techhive.com/article/2258136/rokus-forced-arbitration-update-leaves-users-fuming.html |archive-date=23 Dec 2025}}</ref>]]
In early March 2024, Roku Inc. [[Post-purchase EULA modification|modified]] its [[End-user license agreement]] (EULA), after the company disclosed a data breach that affected 15,000 accounts.<ref name=":2" /> In April 2024, Roku disclosed another incident that affected 576,000 additional accounts.<ref name=":1" />

This new EULA was enforced onto pre-existing users in the form of a message on their Smart TV or streaming player, which allowed the user to accept the new terms but did not offer an option to decline. The only option Roku Inc. offered to opt-out of the new EULA was for the user to mail the company their contact information that was used to register the Roku account (if applicable), along with the product model, software, or service "at issue." In this new EULA, Roku included a [[forced arbitration]] agreement to not allow users to sue or take part in lawsuits against Roku Inc.<ref name=":0" /> Roku claimed a week later that the new EULA was not in relation to the aforementioned data breach.

==="HDMI-customized ad insertion" patent (Oct. 2023)===
In early October 2023, Roku filed a patent ([https://patents.google.com/patent/US20230388589A1/en US20230388589A1]) for a program to insert ads on top of the display output of any non-Roku device displayed on a Roku TV. This program would be able to detect when the consumer has paused a video feed and display an advertisement, and it would be personalized by data collected through Roku services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 Dec 2024 |title=Hdmi customized ad insertion |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US20230388589A1/en |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=Google Patents |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251216065411/https://patents.google.com/patent/US20230388589A1/en |archive-date=16 Dec 2025}}</ref>

As of January 2025, this patent has not been implemented into any Roku devices. However, a similar feature which also detects content from connected devices, called "More Ways to Watch," has previously been implemented.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to use More Ways to Watch on your Roku TV |url=https://support.roku.com/article/115005739288 |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=Roku Support |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251114082909/https://support.roku.com/article/115005739288 |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Katzmaier |first=David |date=11 Apr 2017 |title=Roku TVs now track what you watch to suggest streams, target ads |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/roku-tvs-now-track-what-you-watch-to-suggest-streams-target-ads/ |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=CNET |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260208062725/https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/roku-tvs-now-track-what-you-watch-to-suggest-streams-target-ads/ |archive-date=8 Feb 2026}}</ref>
==="Blocks Local Channels from an Antenna without Internet Connection (March 2026)===
On March 23rd 2026 , Roku had begun to block local tv through atena by forcing a internet connection.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Companies]]
[[Category:Companies using forced arbitration clauses]]

Roku

2026-04-01T00:09:24Z

Obieden:

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American technology company focused on TV connected devices and TV software.
|Founded=2002
|Industry=Media Streaming
|Logo=Roku.png
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Public
|Website=https://roku.com/
}}
'''[[wikipedia:Roku|Roku, Inc.]]''' is an American technology company, founded in October of 2002, known for their "Roku" line of products which consist of Smart TVs & streaming players. It is also the creator and maintainer of "Roku OS," a smart TV operating system released in 2004 that allows users to access streaming service apps.

==Consumer-protection summary==

====Privacy====

*Roku collects personal information such as the user's device information, usage data, viewing activity, and location data.
*This data is used for purposes such as providing and improving services, personalizing content, and targeted advertisements.
*Roku retains personal data for as long as deemed necessary.
*On many of their devices and services such as Roku OS, "Do not sell my personal information" is opt-out rather than opt-in.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Roku Privacy Policy |url=https://docs.roku.com/published/userprivacypolicy/en/us |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=[[Roku]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210034522/https://docs.roku.com/published/userprivacypolicy/en/us |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref>

====Transparency====

*The "Do not sell my personal information" setting on Roku OS is located behind many menus, making it difficult to find.
*Roku states the added forced arbitration clause was a decision made separate of the data breach. However, this has been met with skepticism by the community.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Toulas |first=Bill |date=11 Mar 2024 |title=Over 15,000 hacked Roku accounts sold for 50¢ each to buy hardware |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/over-15-000-hacked-roku-accounts-sold-for-50-each-to-buy-hardware/ |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=Bleeping Computer |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251206210456/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/over-15-000-hacked-roku-accounts-sold-for-50-each-to-buy-hardware/ |archive-date=6 Dec 2025}}</ref>

==Products and Services==
===Streaming Devices===
Roku's core products are streaming media players that connect to televisions via HDMI, allowing users to stream content from various online services. The lineup includes:

*Roku Express - Entry-level HD streaming devices
*Roku Streaming Stick - Mid-range portable streaming devices
*Roku Ultra - Premium streaming devices with enhanced features
*Others
**Roku HD (pre-2011)
**Roku HD-XR (pre-2011)
**Roku SD (pre-2011)
**Roku XD and XDS (pre-2011)
**Roku LT (models 2400X/2450X)
**Roku HD (model 2500X)
**Roku 2 HD

===Roku TV===
In 2014, Roku began licensing its operating system to TV manufacturers, creating the Roku TV platform built-in with Roku OS. Partners include TCL, Hisense, Sharp, and Philips, among others.
===Roku OS===
Roku OS is the operating system that powers all Roku devices. Key features include:

*The Roku Channel Store, which serves streaming channels/apps
*Universal search across multiple streaming services
*Voice control capabilities
*The free, ad-supported Roku Channel
*Customizable home screen interface

===Audio Products===

*Roku Streambar - Combines a soundbar with a streaming player
*Roku Wireless Speakers - Designed specifically for Roku TV systems
*Roku Wireless Subwoofer - For enhanced bass response

===Content and Advertising===
The Roku Channel is the company's own ad-supported streaming service, offering free movies, TV shows, and some original content. Roku also operates an advertising business that serves as a significant revenue source, placing ads across its platform.

==Consumer-protection incidents==

=== Over the AIR channels unreachable without internet access (Jan. 2026) ===
A change caused over the air (OTA) channels via antenna to be unreachable when the TV does not have internet access. [https://support.roku.com/article/228844467#section-0 Roku TV OS version 15.0] combined the OTA broadcasts live TV guide with free streams from The Roku Channel. Roku [https://cordcuttersnews.com/roku-no-longer-lets-you-watch-free-ota-tv-from-abc-cbs-fox-nbc-with-an-antenna-unless-you-also-have-a-working-internet-connect-on-roku-tvs/ claims this is a bug] that will be fixed in a future update.

===Auto-playing Ads Before Home Screen (Mar. 2025)===
In March 2025, reports surfaced that Roku was testing a new advertising feature that plays video ads before users could access the Roku OS home screen.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Harding |first=Scharon |date=17 March 2025 |title=“Awful”: Roku tests autoplaying ads loading before the home screen |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/roku-says-unpopular-autoplay-ads-are-just-a-test/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318004112/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/roku-says-unpopular-autoplay-ads-are-just-a-test/ |archive-date=18 March 2025 |access-date=18 March 2025 |work=arstechnica}}</ref> Users reported that when turning on their Roku TV or streaming device, they were met with a video advertisement — often for the movie ''Moana 2'' — before reaching the home screen.<ref name=":3" /> While some users found an option to skip the ad, others claimed that there was no clear way to bypass it.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Herbig |first=Daniel |date=18 March 2025 |title=Roku zeigt Werbung, bevor man überhaupt zum Homescreen kommt |url=https://www.heise.de/news/Roku-zeigt-Werbung-bevor-man-ueberhaupt-zum-Homescreen-kommt-10318983.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318081622/https://www.heise.de/news/Roku-zeigt-Werbung-bevor-man-ueberhaupt-zum-Homescreen-kommt-10318983.html |archive-date=18 March 2025 |access-date=18 March 2025 |work=heise online}}</ref>

A Roku spokesperson confirmed that the autoplaying ads were part of a temporary test but did not specify whether they would become a permanent feature. The company stated that its business model relies on continuous testing and innovation in advertising but did not address customer concerns or backlash.<ref name=":3" /> Many users expressed dissatisfaction, with some stating they would stop using Roku devices if this feature were permanently implemented. Community discussions and forum posts described the ads as "unacceptable" and "intrusive."<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />

Roku has previously been known for pushing the boundaries on advertising, including filing a patent for technology that could overlay ads on third-party devices connected to a Roku TV. While this patent has not yet been implemented, the new auto-playing ads suggest Roku is continuing to expand their advertising strategies.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />

===Post-Purchase EULA Modification (Mar. 2024)===
[[File:Roku forced arbitration notice.jpg|thumb|510x510px|The screen in which consumers agreed to force arbitration. There is no "disagree."<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Jared |date=7 Mar 2024 |title=Roku’s forced arbitration update leaves users fuming |url=https://www.techhive.com/article/2258136/rokus-forced-arbitration-update-leaves-users-fuming.html |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=TechHive |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251223223437/https://www.techhive.com/article/2258136/rokus-forced-arbitration-update-leaves-users-fuming.html |archive-date=23 Dec 2025}}</ref>]]
In early March 2024, Roku Inc. [[Post-purchase EULA modification|modified]] its [[End-user license agreement]] (EULA), after the company disclosed a data breach that affected 15,000 accounts.<ref name=":2" /> In April 2024, Roku disclosed another incident that affected 576,000 additional accounts.<ref name=":1" />

This new EULA was enforced onto pre-existing users in the form of a message on their Smart TV or streaming player, which allowed the user to accept the new terms but did not offer an option to decline. The only option Roku Inc. offered to opt-out of the new EULA was for the user to mail the company their contact information that was used to register the Roku account (if applicable), along with the product model, software, or service "at issue." In this new EULA, Roku included a [[forced arbitration]] agreement to not allow users to sue or take part in lawsuits against Roku Inc.<ref name=":0" /> Roku claimed a week later that the new EULA was not in relation to the aforementioned data breach.

==="HDMI-customized ad insertion" patent (Oct. 2023)===
In early October 2023, Roku filed a patent ([https://patents.google.com/patent/US20230388589A1/en US20230388589A1]) for a program to insert ads on top of the display output of any non-Roku device displayed on a Roku TV. This program would be able to detect when the consumer has paused a video feed and display an advertisement, and it would be personalized by data collected through Roku services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 Dec 2024 |title=Hdmi customized ad insertion |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US20230388589A1/en |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=Google Patents |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251216065411/https://patents.google.com/patent/US20230388589A1/en |archive-date=16 Dec 2025}}</ref>

As of January 2025, this patent has not been implemented into any Roku devices. However, a similar feature which also detects content from connected devices, called "More Ways to Watch," has previously been implemented.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to use More Ways to Watch on your Roku TV |url=https://support.roku.com/article/115005739288 |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=Roku Support |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251114082909/https://support.roku.com/article/115005739288 |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Katzmaier |first=David |date=11 Apr 2017 |title=Roku TVs now track what you watch to suggest streams, target ads |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/roku-tvs-now-track-what-you-watch-to-suggest-streams-target-ads/ |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=CNET |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260208062725/https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/roku-tvs-now-track-what-you-watch-to-suggest-streams-target-ads/ |archive-date=8 Feb 2026}}</ref>
==="HDMI-customized ad insertion" patent (Oct. 2023)===

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Companies]]
[[Category:Companies using forced arbitration clauses]]

Roku

2026-04-01T00:08:16Z

Obieden: /* Consumer-protection incidents */

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American technology company focused on TV connected devices and TV software.
|Founded=2002
|Industry=Media Streaming
|Logo=Roku.png
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Public
|Website=https://roku.com/
}}
'''[[wikipedia:Roku|Roku, Inc.]]''' is an American technology company, founded in October of 2002, known for their "Roku" line of products which consist of Smart TVs & streaming players. It is also the creator and maintainer of "Roku OS," a smart TV operating system released in 2004 that allows users to access streaming service apps.

==Consumer-protection summary==

====Privacy====

*Roku collects personal information such as the user's device information, usage data, viewing activity, and location data.
*This data is used for purposes such as providing and improving services, personalizing content, and targeted advertisements.
*Roku retains personal data for as long as deemed necessary.
*On many of their devices and services such as Roku OS, "Do not sell my personal information" is opt-out rather than opt-in.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Roku Privacy Policy |url=https://docs.roku.com/published/userprivacypolicy/en/us |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=[[Roku]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210034522/https://docs.roku.com/published/userprivacypolicy/en/us |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref>

====Transparency====

*The "Do not sell my personal information" setting on Roku OS is located behind many menus, making it difficult to find.
*Roku states the added forced arbitration clause was a decision made separate of the data breach. However, this has been met with skepticism by the community.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Toulas |first=Bill |date=11 Mar 2024 |title=Over 15,000 hacked Roku accounts sold for 50¢ each to buy hardware |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/over-15-000-hacked-roku-accounts-sold-for-50-each-to-buy-hardware/ |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=Bleeping Computer |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251206210456/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/over-15-000-hacked-roku-accounts-sold-for-50-each-to-buy-hardware/ |archive-date=6 Dec 2025}}</ref>

==Products and Services==
===Streaming Devices===
Roku's core products are streaming media players that connect to televisions via HDMI, allowing users to stream content from various online services. The lineup includes:

*Roku Express - Entry-level HD streaming devices
*Roku Streaming Stick - Mid-range portable streaming devices
*Roku Ultra - Premium streaming devices with enhanced features
*Others
**Roku HD (pre-2011)
**Roku HD-XR (pre-2011)
**Roku SD (pre-2011)
**Roku XD and XDS (pre-2011)
**Roku LT (models 2400X/2450X)
**Roku HD (model 2500X)
**Roku 2 HD

===Roku TV===
In 2014, Roku began licensing its operating system to TV manufacturers, creating the Roku TV platform built-in with Roku OS. Partners include TCL, Hisense, Sharp, and Philips, among others.
===Roku OS===
Roku OS is the operating system that powers all Roku devices. Key features include:

*The Roku Channel Store, which serves streaming channels/apps
*Universal search across multiple streaming services
*Voice control capabilities
*The free, ad-supported Roku Channel
*Customizable home screen interface

===Audio Products===

*Roku Streambar - Combines a soundbar with a streaming player
*Roku Wireless Speakers - Designed specifically for Roku TV systems
*Roku Wireless Subwoofer - For enhanced bass response

===Content and Advertising===
The Roku Channel is the company's own ad-supported streaming service, offering free movies, TV shows, and some original content. Roku also operates an advertising business that serves as a significant revenue source, placing ads across its platform.

==Consumer-protection incidents==

=== Over the AIR channels unreachable without internet access (Jan. 2026) ===
A change caused over the air (OTA) channels via antenna to be unreachable when the TV does not have internet access. [https://support.roku.com/article/228844467#section-0 Roku TV OS version 15.0] combined the OTA broadcasts live TV guide with free streams from The Roku Channel. Roku [https://cordcuttersnews.com/roku-no-longer-lets-you-watch-free-ota-tv-from-abc-cbs-fox-nbc-with-an-antenna-unless-you-also-have-a-working-internet-connect-on-roku-tvs/ claims this is a bug] that will be fixed in a future update.

===Auto-playing Ads Before Home Screen (Mar. 2025)===
In March 2025, reports surfaced that Roku was testing a new advertising feature that plays video ads before users could access the Roku OS home screen.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Harding |first=Scharon |date=17 March 2025 |title=“Awful”: Roku tests autoplaying ads loading before the home screen |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/roku-says-unpopular-autoplay-ads-are-just-a-test/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318004112/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/roku-says-unpopular-autoplay-ads-are-just-a-test/ |archive-date=18 March 2025 |access-date=18 March 2025 |work=arstechnica}}</ref> Users reported that when turning on their Roku TV or streaming device, they were met with a video advertisement — often for the movie ''Moana 2'' — before reaching the home screen.<ref name=":3" /> While some users found an option to skip the ad, others claimed that there was no clear way to bypass it.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Herbig |first=Daniel |date=18 March 2025 |title=Roku zeigt Werbung, bevor man überhaupt zum Homescreen kommt |url=https://www.heise.de/news/Roku-zeigt-Werbung-bevor-man-ueberhaupt-zum-Homescreen-kommt-10318983.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318081622/https://www.heise.de/news/Roku-zeigt-Werbung-bevor-man-ueberhaupt-zum-Homescreen-kommt-10318983.html |archive-date=18 March 2025 |access-date=18 March 2025 |work=heise online}}</ref>

A Roku spokesperson confirmed that the autoplaying ads were part of a temporary test but did not specify whether they would become a permanent feature. The company stated that its business model relies on continuous testing and innovation in advertising but did not address customer concerns or backlash.<ref name=":3" /> Many users expressed dissatisfaction, with some stating they would stop using Roku devices if this feature were permanently implemented. Community discussions and forum posts described the ads as "unacceptable" and "intrusive."<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />

Roku has previously been known for pushing the boundaries on advertising, including filing a patent for technology that could overlay ads on third-party devices connected to a Roku TV. While this patent has not yet been implemented, the new auto-playing ads suggest Roku is continuing to expand their advertising strategies.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />

===Post-Purchase EULA Modification (Mar. 2024)===
[[File:Roku forced arbitration notice.jpg|thumb|510x510px|The screen in which consumers agreed to force arbitration. There is no "disagree."<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Jared |date=7 Mar 2024 |title=Roku’s forced arbitration update leaves users fuming |url=https://www.techhive.com/article/2258136/rokus-forced-arbitration-update-leaves-users-fuming.html |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=TechHive |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251223223437/https://www.techhive.com/article/2258136/rokus-forced-arbitration-update-leaves-users-fuming.html |archive-date=23 Dec 2025}}</ref>]]
In early March 2024, Roku Inc. [[Post-purchase EULA modification|modified]] its [[End-user license agreement]] (EULA), after the company disclosed a data breach that affected 15,000 accounts.<ref name=":2" /> In April 2024, Roku disclosed another incident that affected 576,000 additional accounts.<ref name=":1" />

This new EULA was enforced onto pre-existing users in the form of a message on their Smart TV or streaming player, which allowed the user to accept the new terms but did not offer an option to decline. The only option Roku Inc. offered to opt-out of the new EULA was for the user to mail the company their contact information that was used to register the Roku account (if applicable), along with the product model, software, or service "at issue." In this new EULA, Roku included a [[forced arbitration]] agreement to not allow users to sue or take part in lawsuits against Roku Inc.<ref name=":0" /> Roku claimed a week later that the new EULA was not in relation to the aforementioned data breach.

==="HDMI-customized ad insertion" patent (Oct. 2023)===
In early October 2023, Roku filed a patent ([https://patents.google.com/patent/US20230388589A1/en US20230388589A1]) for a program to insert ads on top of the display output of any non-Roku device displayed on a Roku TV. This program would be able to detect when the consumer has paused a video feed and display an advertisement, and it would be personalized by data collected through Roku services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 Dec 2024 |title=Hdmi customized ad insertion |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US20230388589A1/en |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=Google Patents |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251216065411/https://patents.google.com/patent/US20230388589A1/en |archive-date=16 Dec 2025}}</ref>

As of January 2025, this patent has not been implemented into any Roku devices. However, a similar feature which also detects content from connected devices, called "More Ways to Watch," has previously been implemented.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to use More Ways to Watch on your Roku TV |url=https://support.roku.com/article/115005739288 |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=Roku Support |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251114082909/https://support.roku.com/article/115005739288 |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Katzmaier |first=David |date=11 Apr 2017 |title=Roku TVs now track what you watch to suggest streams, target ads |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/roku-tvs-now-track-what-you-watch-to-suggest-streams-target-ads/ |url-status=live |access-date=19 Apr 2025 |website=CNET |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260208062725/https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/roku-tvs-now-track-what-you-watch-to-suggest-streams-target-ads/ |archive-date=8 Feb 2026}}</ref>
==Blocks Local Channels from an Antenna without Internet Connection (April 2026)==

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Companies]]
[[Category:Companies using forced arbitration clauses]]

Discord

2026-03-15T07:57:58Z

Obieden: /* Consumer friendly alternatives */

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American technology company that runs a platform for messaging and calling targeted towards gamers.
|Founded=2015
|Industry=VoIP communications, instant messaging, videoconferences, content delivery, and social media
|Logo=Discord.svg
|ParentCompany=Discord Inc.
|Type=Private
|Website=https://discord.com
|CompanyAlias=Discord Inc.
}}
'''Discord''' is a proprietary VoIP and instant-messaging platform developed by Discord Inc. (formerly Hammer & Chisel, Inc.), co-founded by Jason Citron and Stanislav Vishnevskiy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Guadalupe |date=3 May 2018 |title=There Are 2.6 Billion Online Gamers in the World. This Startup Just May Connect Them All |url=https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503131556/https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |archive-date=3 May 2018 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Inc.}}</ref> Launched in 2015, the service has grown to over 150 million monthly active users as of 2025. While initially marketed towards PC gamers, Discord has expanded to multiple platforms, serving various communities and use cases, including education.<ref name="about-company">{{Cite web |date=15 Apr 2024 |title=About Discord <nowiki>|</nowiki> Our Mission and Values |url=https://discord.com/company/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250608013037/https://discord.com/company |archive-date=8 Jun 2025 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Discord}}</ref>

In April 2025, Humam Sakhnini (formerly King, Activision Blizzard) replaced Jason Citron as CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Discord Appoints Humam Sakhnini as Chief Executive Officer |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124072250/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

===Privacy<ref name="terms-of-service3">[https://discord.com/terms/ "Discord's Terms of Service"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216033955/https://discord.com/terms/ Archived])</ref>===
Mentioned within the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''':<ref name="privacy-policy3">[https://discord.com/privacy/ "Discord Privacy Policy"]. April 15, 2024. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034021/https://discord.com/privacy/ Archived]) ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025.</ref><ref name="community-guidelines2">[https://discord.com/guidelines/ "Discord Community Guidelines"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260216015550/https://discord.com/guidelines Archived])</ref>
*Collects a variety of user data, such as contact details; user generated messages and posts, including drafts; voice messages; payment information; server participation; device information, such as games being playing; log and event information related to use of Discord services as well as information from cookies and third party sources<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-29 |title=Privacy Policy: The information we collect |url=https://discord.com/privacy#3 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Discord |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128220720/https://discord.com/privacy |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref>
*Claims broad rights to user-generated content
*Stores deleted messages for undefined periods
*Retains personal information until deemed "no longer needed"
*Processes user content for "safety features and platform improvement"
*Shares data with related companies, vendors, and third-party service providers
*Opt-out behavioral tracking across platform features for personalization
*Maintains logs of IP addresses and device information for an undetermined amount of time, flags any user who has ever signed in with an EU IP address for inclusion within DSA transparency reports
*Sends a web request when any UI element is clicked and when typing
In 2019, Discord started requiring phone verification. The account will be locked until a phone number is added, regardless of account age or recent activity. The account will be automatically locked if the phone number is removed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=opal |date=2019-04-15 |title=guess I'm done with Discord |url=https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331090127/https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht |archive-date=2024-03-31 |website=wowana.me}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cadence |date=2020-06-06 |title=Why you shouldn't trust Discord |url=https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215170749/https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord |archive-date=2026-02-15 |website=cadence.moe}}</ref>

===Freedom===
In order to use Discord, users must agree to the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''', which includes agreeing to:<ref name="privacy-policy3" />
*Mandatory [[Forced arbitration|binding arbitration]] with [[class action|class-action]] waiver for U.S. users (From 19 October 2018)
*Granting a perpetual, transferable license to user content
*Broad terms of service, which allow for unilateral changes
*Termination of user accounts without prior notice at Discord's discretion
*No option to opt out of core data collection while using the service
*Discord possibly retaining content even after deletion by the user
Additionally, server owners have limited recourse if their servers are banned, and users are required to use Discord's payment processing for all monetary transactions.

===Transparency===
Discord's terms of service are lengthy and complex. In October 2025, the base terms are 29 pages long, with a reading level of 14th grade (equivalent to two years of tertiary education) and an estimated reading time of 42 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calculated using readabilitychecker.com based on current discord TOS. discord.com/terms |url=https://readabilitychecker.com/url |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210185029/https://readabilitychecker.com/url |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref> The 2021 version of Discord's ToS would take an estimated 275+ hours to read.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EULA of despair |url=https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |website=Penn State University Pilot Lab |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034102/https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Mentioned within the '''Discord Privacy Policy'''<ref name="privacy-policy3" /> and '''Community Guidelines''':<ref name="community-guidelines2" />
*Unclear processes for handling law enforcement requests
*Vague about data retention time frames
*Limited transparency regarding content moderation decisions<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=BBB - Discord, Inc. |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Better Business Bureau |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210184246/https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Trustpilot - Discord |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Trustpilot |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251112025215/https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref>
**Offending content not always displayed to the user, including metadata, filenames, timestamps, or the channel where it was posted
**No limits or restrictions on the age of content (e.g., users can be suspended due to something sent 1500 days ago)
*Lack of transparency in the server ban appeals process<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
*Limited disclosure of recommendation algorithm factors
*No clear disclosure of how the content is used for platform improvement
==Incidents==
===Introduction of forced arbitration (Oct. 2018)===
In October 2018, [[forced arbitration]] was added to the [[Terms of Service|terms of service]]. Users could opt out by sending an 'opt-out notice' to arbitration-opt-out@discord.com within 90 days of the ToS going in effect or registering their first account.'''<ref name="terms-of-service3" />'''

===Child safety concerns (June 2023)===
An [[wikipedia:NBC News|NBC News]] investigation in June 2023 uncovered widespread child safety issues on Discord, revealing systemic problems with the platform's user protection measures.

Investigators identified 35 separate cases where adults were criminally charged with "kidnapping, grooming, or sexual assault" involving contacts initiated through Discord. Additionally, 165 criminal prosecutions involving the sharing of child sexual exploitation material (CSAM) on the platform were documented.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFGoggin2023" class="citation web cs1">Goggin, Ben (21 Jun 2023). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 "Child predators are using Discord, a popular app among teens, for sextortion and abductions"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230621152318/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 Archived] from the original on 21 Jun 2023. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Child+predators+are+using+Discord%2C+a+popular+app+among+teens%2C+for+sextortion+and+abductions&rft.date=2023-06-21&rft.aulast=Goggin&rft.aufirst=Ben&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsocial-media%2Fdiscord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===FTC data collection investigation (Sept. 2024)===
In September 2024, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) released a comprehensive report examining Discord's data collection practices as part of a broader investigation into the data collection practices of social media platforms.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite class="citation web cs1">[https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf "A Look Behind the Screens: Examining the Data Practices of Social Media and Video Streaming Services"] (PDF). ''Federal Trade Commission''. 11 Sep 2024. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919133855/https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf Archived] (PDF) from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Federal+Trade+Commission&rft.atitle=A+Look+Behind+the+Screens%3A+Examining+the+Data+Practices+of+Social+Media+and+Video+Streaming+Services&rft.date=2024-09-11&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ftc.gov%2Fsystem%2Ffiles%2Fftc_gov%2Fpdf%2FSocial-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

The investigation revealed Discord collects extensive user data, including:
*Message content and metadata
*Voice-chat participation
*Server membership and activity
*Device and location information
Particular concern was raised about:
*[https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-312 Collection of data from users under 13]
*Handling of minors' user information
*Inadequate age-verification systems
The FTC identified multiple areas where Discord's practices put users at risk:
*Identity theft exposure
*Potential stalking risks
*Discrimination concerns
*Mental health and emotional impact

The FTC concluded that Discord's data practices posed unacceptable risks to users, particularly minors, and recommended significant reforms to the platform's privacy protection measures.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFTolentino2024" class="citation web cs1">Tolentino, Daysia (19 Sep 2024). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 "Social media companies engaged in 'vast surveillance,' FTC finds, calling status quo 'unacceptable'"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919171049/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 Archived] from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Social+media+companies+engaged+in+%27vast+surveillance%2C%27+FTC+finds%2C+calling+status+quo+%27unacceptable%27&rft.date=2024-09-19&rft.aulast=Tolentino&rft.aufirst=Daysia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsecurity%2Fsocial-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===Reinforcement of forced arbitration (Sept. 2025)===
Announced August 29th, 2025, and put into effect September 29th, 2025, Discord updated and re-iterated their [[forced arbitration]] clause but gave users another option to opt-out of forced arbitration until October 29th, 2025, for existing accounts, or 30 days after initial agreement for new accounts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-29 |title=Discord's Terms of Service |url=https://discord.com/terms#16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007023150/https://discord.com/terms#16 |archive-date=2025-10-07 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord.com}}</ref> Users are automatically opted into the forced arbitration clause unless they take specific action to opt out of it within 30 days. Instead, if users chose to delete their accounts, the platform required them to accept the terms in order to access their account, from which they could then delete it, making acceptance of the new terms mandatory.
[[File:Discord Forced Arbitration 1.png|alt=An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application.|thumb|(2025-09-29) An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application. The terms of service at the time of this screenshot includes forced arbitration and disallows users from filing a class-action lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Discord |date=2025-09-29 |title=Terms of Service {{!}} Discord |url=https://discord.com/terms |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=Discord}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260222174800/https://discord.com/terms Archived])</ref>]]

===Third-Party customer service data breach (Oct. 2025)===
{{Main|Discord / 5CA Data Breach}}
In October 2025, Discord issued a press release announcing a "Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service [5CA]", in which "the unauthorized party [...] gained access to a small number of government‑ID images (e.g., driver’s license, passport) from users who had appealed an age determination," as well as other personal data provided to support.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-03 |title=Update on a Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251006163040/https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |archive-date=2025-10-06 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord}}</ref> The number of ID images accessed was approximately 70,000, and the third-party in question was later named as 5CA.<ref name=":2" /> The hackers involved in the breach have revealed that the data was accessed via Zendesk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Troy |date=2025-10-04 |title=X |url=https://x.com/troyhunt/status/1974558088847102289}}</ref>

===Announcement of age verification coming in March (Feb. 2026)===
{{Main|Discord's Mandatory Age Verification}}
In February 2026, Discord issued a press release announcing "enhanced teen safety features rolling out globally", which begins with a "rollout to new and existing users in early March", that may require users "to engage in an age-verification process to change certain settings or access sensitive content".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-09 |title=Discord Launches Teen-by-Default Settings Globally |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260209142047/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |archive-date=2026-02-09 |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=Discord}}</ref>

On February 9, 2026, a [https://www.change.org/p/prevent-discord-from-implementing-id-verification Change.org petition] was created to prevent Discord from implementing the age verification globally.

===Discord's connections to Palantir===
Discord in the UK once utilized<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=2026-02-23 |title=Discord distances itself from Persona age verification after user backlash |url=https://www.theverge.com/tech/878369/discord-persona-age-verification |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224163803/https://www.theverge.com/tech/878369/discord-persona-age-verification |archive-date=2026-02-24 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Giono |first=Catherina |date=2026-02-24 |title=Discord distances itself from Peter Thiel–backed verification software after its code was found on a Google Cloud endpoint |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260226164710/https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/ |archive-date=2026-02-26 |website=Fortune}}</ref> [[Persona]] as a third-party, specialized vendor for age verification, requiring UK-based users to submit facial scans or ID to access restricted content. A since redacted statement on the support.discord.com web-page under the "How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord" article stated<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260212201755/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |archive-date=2026-02-12 |website=Discord}}</ref>:{{Quote|"Important: If you're located in the UK, you may be part of an experiment where your information will be processed by an age-assurance vendor, Persona. The Information you submit will be temporarily stored for up to 7 days, then deleted. For ID document verification, all details are blurred except your photo and date of birth, so only what's truly needed for age verification is used".}}
[[File:Discord Article Changes.png|alt=This image shows the Screenshorts of the changes support article on Discord's support page|thumb|Changes between the 15th of February compared to the 19th of February 2026]]
After significant backlash from the online community, Discord has changed their statement under the article (as of February 19th, 2026)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218072524/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |archive-date=2026-02-18 |website=Discord}}</ref>: {{Quote|"Note: Some users in regions outside the UK and Australia may see age-assurance prompts when accessing certain features or settings as part of ongoing experiments."}}

Discord does not further clarify what the "experiments" entail. Furthermore, the more detailed help-center article does not contain any mentions of the vendor Persona. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=What’s Changing for UK Users Due to the UK Online Safety Act |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959-What-s-Changing-for-UK-Users-Due-to-the-UK-Online-Safety-Act |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228040004/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959-What-s-Changing-for-UK-and-Australian-Users |archive-date=2026-02-28 |website=Discord}}</ref> 

Persona is an identity verification tool producer, that has received $200 million dollars<ref>{{Cite web |last=Song |first=Rick |date=2026-01-21 |title=Announcing Persona’s $200M Series D |url=https://withpersona.com/blog/series-d |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218172300/https://withpersona.com/blog/series-d |archive-date=2026-02-18 |website=*Persona}}</ref> from the Founders Fund<ref>{{Cite web |title=Persona |url=https://foundersfund.com/company/persona/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228040423/https://foundersfund.com/company/persona/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Founders' Fund - Portfolio |url=https://foundersfund.com/portfolio/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228034728/https://foundersfund.com/portfolio/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref>, a venture capital group headed by Peter Thiel<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peter Thiel |url=https://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528193728/http://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/ |archive-date=2016-05-28 |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref>. Peter Thiel is also the co-founder of Palantir Technologies Inc, a global surveillance company.<ref name=":3" />

===Inactive account deletions===
Discord has a [[Inactive account deletion|deletion policy on inactive accounts]], in which accounts that are not used for 2 years or more may be scheduled for deletion. Before the deletion of an inactive account, users may receive an email or text message warning that their account is scheduled for deletion. Such policies could adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as hospitalization, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries that have prolonged internet shutdowns. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Librarian |date=2023-06-14 |title=Inactive Account Deletion |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210025748/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion |archive-date=2026-02-10 |website=Discord}}</ref>

===SDK vulnerability with Arc Raiders integration (March 2026)===
In March 2026, Timothy Meadows, a computer engineer discovered a privacy and security vulnerability that involved Discord's [[wikipedia:Software_development_kit|software developer kit (SDK)]] and integrations with the [[wikipedia:Arc_Raiders|Arc Raiders]] game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meadows |first=Timothy |date=3 Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders - Discord SDK Data Exposure |url=https://timothymeadows.com/arc-raiders-discord-sdk-data-exposure/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/pktbu |archive-date=2026-03-06 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=timothymeadows.com}}</ref> This vulnerability affected the users with their Discord account linked with the game, allowing the software to log and store locally Discord private conversations, user credentials and other user information in an unencrypted log file. If the Arc Raiders game crashes, this file could be sent to the game developers. Embark Studios disabled the SDK integration after the incident was announced. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Klotz |first=Aaron |date=Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders was accidentally recording Discord conversations into an unencrypted local game file — vulnerability in SDK could log messages and credentials in plaintext |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/pc-gaming/arc-raiders-was-accidentally-recording-discord-conversations-into-an-unencrypted-local-game-file-vulnerability-in-sdk-could-log-messages-and-credentials-in-plaintext |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/kWBIf |archive-date=2026-03-07 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=Tom's Hardware}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Marnell |first=Blair |date=6 Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders Was Recording Private Discord DMs |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/arc-raiders-was-recording-private-discord-dms/1100-6538629/|url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/2ZQ1M |archive-date=2026-03-08 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=Gamespot}}</ref>
Before the incident was known, when an user linked their Discord account, a pop-up claimed that Arc Raiders "cannot read users' messages". {{Citation needed}}

===Discord's Protection of Sexual Predators and Pedophiles (April 2025 - Present)===
[[File:Discord's protection of pedophiles.png|thumb|First Offence is a 24-hour mute, with it as an active violation that stays on your profile for up to 4 years, when going after active pedophiles.]]
In April 2025, Discord sees pedophiles as a protected class; they don't even care about your children. Anyone who takes action against them will be hit with the [https://discord.com/safety/hateful-conduct-policy-explainer hateful conduct policy] First offence on Discord for going after pedophiles will be shown in the image on the right. <ref>{{Cite news |last=Lim |first=Alex |date=April 24th , 2025 |title=Why Did Discord Make the Controversial Decision to Shut Down Ro-Cleaner? |url=https://pupuweb.com/why-did-discord-make-the-controversial-decision-to-shut-down-ro-cleaner/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250425034609if_/https://pupuweb.com/why-did-discord-make-the-controversial-decision-to-shut-down-ro-cleaner/ |archive-date=April 25th 2025 |access-date=April 25th 2025 |work=Pupuweb}}</ref> [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJD9MQLaQ-g No Text To Speech's video] also explains this!

==Solution to delete an account without agreeing to the updated ToS==

*Visit [https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/212500837-How-to-Delete-your-Discord-Account How to delete Discord account] and scroll to "Having Trouble Deleting Your Discord Account?" Find the link titled "Reach out to our support team". Direct link subject to user instance - http://dis.gd/support

*Fill out the "Submit a request" form. (A web search for "Submit a request Discord" may help users find the form. Be sure to answer the question "What can we help you with?" with "Help and Support" from the drop-down.) '''Please fill out the form using the same email address associated with your Discord account, as this process may need to be restarted if it is not.''' In the form, under "Type of question," there is an option for "Account deletion request". Proceed to fill out and submit the form with any other relevant information. An email will then be sent with further instructions, including how to proceed with account deletion, which involves responding to the email with "I confirm that I would like to delete the account associated with [user email]." '''The response must be received from the same email as the one associated with the Discord account.'''

==Solution to disable forced updates on Linux==
If you're running a .deb installation of Discord, you can disable forced updates by adding "SKIP_HOST_UPDATE": true to ~/.config/discord/settings.json.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pardomuan |first=Patar Isac |date=2025-04-26 |title=How I Bypassed Discord’s Forced Update on Linux |url=https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Medium |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251004041109/https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |archive-date=4 Oct 2025}}</ref>

==Consumer friendly alternatives==

*[https://stoat.chat/ Stoat] [https://github.com/stoatchat Stoat's GitHub]
*[https://www.rootapp.com/ Root]

[[File:Discord Vague Infringement example.png|thumb|An example of how Discord handles its moderation from a user's perspective.]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Discord]]
[[Category:Forced arbitration]]

Discord

2026-03-15T07:51:04Z

Obieden: /* Discord's Protection of Sexual Predators and Pedophiles (April 2025 - Present) */

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American technology company that runs a platform for messaging and calling targeted towards gamers.
|Founded=2015
|Industry=VoIP communications, instant messaging, videoconferences, content delivery, and social media
|Logo=Discord.svg
|ParentCompany=Discord Inc.
|Type=Private
|Website=https://discord.com
|CompanyAlias=Discord Inc.
}}
'''Discord''' is a proprietary VoIP and instant-messaging platform developed by Discord Inc. (formerly Hammer & Chisel, Inc.), co-founded by Jason Citron and Stanislav Vishnevskiy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Guadalupe |date=3 May 2018 |title=There Are 2.6 Billion Online Gamers in the World. This Startup Just May Connect Them All |url=https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503131556/https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |archive-date=3 May 2018 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Inc.}}</ref> Launched in 2015, the service has grown to over 150 million monthly active users as of 2025. While initially marketed towards PC gamers, Discord has expanded to multiple platforms, serving various communities and use cases, including education.<ref name="about-company">{{Cite web |date=15 Apr 2024 |title=About Discord <nowiki>|</nowiki> Our Mission and Values |url=https://discord.com/company/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250608013037/https://discord.com/company |archive-date=8 Jun 2025 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Discord}}</ref>

In April 2025, Humam Sakhnini (formerly King, Activision Blizzard) replaced Jason Citron as CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Discord Appoints Humam Sakhnini as Chief Executive Officer |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124072250/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

===Privacy<ref name="terms-of-service3">[https://discord.com/terms/ "Discord's Terms of Service"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216033955/https://discord.com/terms/ Archived])</ref>===
Mentioned within the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''':<ref name="privacy-policy3">[https://discord.com/privacy/ "Discord Privacy Policy"]. April 15, 2024. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034021/https://discord.com/privacy/ Archived]) ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025.</ref><ref name="community-guidelines2">[https://discord.com/guidelines/ "Discord Community Guidelines"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260216015550/https://discord.com/guidelines Archived])</ref>
*Collects a variety of user data, such as contact details; user generated messages and posts, including drafts; voice messages; payment information; server participation; device information, such as games being playing; log and event information related to use of Discord services as well as information from cookies and third party sources<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-29 |title=Privacy Policy: The information we collect |url=https://discord.com/privacy#3 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Discord |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128220720/https://discord.com/privacy |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref>
*Claims broad rights to user-generated content
*Stores deleted messages for undefined periods
*Retains personal information until deemed "no longer needed"
*Processes user content for "safety features and platform improvement"
*Shares data with related companies, vendors, and third-party service providers
*Opt-out behavioral tracking across platform features for personalization
*Maintains logs of IP addresses and device information for an undetermined amount of time, flags any user who has ever signed in with an EU IP address for inclusion within DSA transparency reports
*Sends a web request when any UI element is clicked and when typing
In 2019, Discord started requiring phone verification. The account will be locked until a phone number is added, regardless of account age or recent activity. The account will be automatically locked if the phone number is removed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=opal |date=2019-04-15 |title=guess I'm done with Discord |url=https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331090127/https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht |archive-date=2024-03-31 |website=wowana.me}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cadence |date=2020-06-06 |title=Why you shouldn't trust Discord |url=https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215170749/https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord |archive-date=2026-02-15 |website=cadence.moe}}</ref>

===Freedom===
In order to use Discord, users must agree to the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''', which includes agreeing to:<ref name="privacy-policy3" />
*Mandatory [[Forced arbitration|binding arbitration]] with [[class action|class-action]] waiver for U.S. users (From 19 October 2018)
*Granting a perpetual, transferable license to user content
*Broad terms of service, which allow for unilateral changes
*Termination of user accounts without prior notice at Discord's discretion
*No option to opt out of core data collection while using the service
*Discord possibly retaining content even after deletion by the user
Additionally, server owners have limited recourse if their servers are banned, and users are required to use Discord's payment processing for all monetary transactions.

===Transparency===
Discord's terms of service are lengthy and complex. In October 2025, the base terms are 29 pages long, with a reading level of 14th grade (equivalent to two years of tertiary education) and an estimated reading time of 42 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calculated using readabilitychecker.com based on current discord TOS. discord.com/terms |url=https://readabilitychecker.com/url |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210185029/https://readabilitychecker.com/url |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref> The 2021 version of Discord's ToS would take an estimated 275+ hours to read.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EULA of despair |url=https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |website=Penn State University Pilot Lab |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034102/https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Mentioned within the '''Discord Privacy Policy'''<ref name="privacy-policy3" /> and '''Community Guidelines''':<ref name="community-guidelines2" />
*Unclear processes for handling law enforcement requests
*Vague about data retention time frames
*Limited transparency regarding content moderation decisions<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=BBB - Discord, Inc. |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Better Business Bureau |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210184246/https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Trustpilot - Discord |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Trustpilot |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251112025215/https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref>
**Offending content not always displayed to the user, including metadata, filenames, timestamps, or the channel where it was posted
**No limits or restrictions on the age of content (e.g., users can be suspended due to something sent 1500 days ago)
*Lack of transparency in the server ban appeals process<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
*Limited disclosure of recommendation algorithm factors
*No clear disclosure of how the content is used for platform improvement
==Incidents==
===Introduction of forced arbitration (Oct. 2018)===
In October 2018, [[forced arbitration]] was added to the [[Terms of Service|terms of service]]. Users could opt out by sending an 'opt-out notice' to arbitration-opt-out@discord.com within 90 days of the ToS going in effect or registering their first account.'''<ref name="terms-of-service3" />'''

===Child safety concerns (June 2023)===
An [[wikipedia:NBC News|NBC News]] investigation in June 2023 uncovered widespread child safety issues on Discord, revealing systemic problems with the platform's user protection measures.

Investigators identified 35 separate cases where adults were criminally charged with "kidnapping, grooming, or sexual assault" involving contacts initiated through Discord. Additionally, 165 criminal prosecutions involving the sharing of child sexual exploitation material (CSAM) on the platform were documented.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFGoggin2023" class="citation web cs1">Goggin, Ben (21 Jun 2023). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 "Child predators are using Discord, a popular app among teens, for sextortion and abductions"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230621152318/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 Archived] from the original on 21 Jun 2023. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Child+predators+are+using+Discord%2C+a+popular+app+among+teens%2C+for+sextortion+and+abductions&rft.date=2023-06-21&rft.aulast=Goggin&rft.aufirst=Ben&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsocial-media%2Fdiscord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===FTC data collection investigation (Sept. 2024)===
In September 2024, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) released a comprehensive report examining Discord's data collection practices as part of a broader investigation into the data collection practices of social media platforms.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite class="citation web cs1">[https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf "A Look Behind the Screens: Examining the Data Practices of Social Media and Video Streaming Services"] (PDF). ''Federal Trade Commission''. 11 Sep 2024. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919133855/https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf Archived] (PDF) from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Federal+Trade+Commission&rft.atitle=A+Look+Behind+the+Screens%3A+Examining+the+Data+Practices+of+Social+Media+and+Video+Streaming+Services&rft.date=2024-09-11&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ftc.gov%2Fsystem%2Ffiles%2Fftc_gov%2Fpdf%2FSocial-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

The investigation revealed Discord collects extensive user data, including:
*Message content and metadata
*Voice-chat participation
*Server membership and activity
*Device and location information
Particular concern was raised about:
*[https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-312 Collection of data from users under 13]
*Handling of minors' user information
*Inadequate age-verification systems
The FTC identified multiple areas where Discord's practices put users at risk:
*Identity theft exposure
*Potential stalking risks
*Discrimination concerns
*Mental health and emotional impact

The FTC concluded that Discord's data practices posed unacceptable risks to users, particularly minors, and recommended significant reforms to the platform's privacy protection measures.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFTolentino2024" class="citation web cs1">Tolentino, Daysia (19 Sep 2024). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 "Social media companies engaged in 'vast surveillance,' FTC finds, calling status quo 'unacceptable'"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919171049/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 Archived] from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Social+media+companies+engaged+in+%27vast+surveillance%2C%27+FTC+finds%2C+calling+status+quo+%27unacceptable%27&rft.date=2024-09-19&rft.aulast=Tolentino&rft.aufirst=Daysia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsecurity%2Fsocial-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===Reinforcement of forced arbitration (Sept. 2025)===
Announced August 29th, 2025, and put into effect September 29th, 2025, Discord updated and re-iterated their [[forced arbitration]] clause but gave users another option to opt-out of forced arbitration until October 29th, 2025, for existing accounts, or 30 days after initial agreement for new accounts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-29 |title=Discord's Terms of Service |url=https://discord.com/terms#16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007023150/https://discord.com/terms#16 |archive-date=2025-10-07 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord.com}}</ref> Users are automatically opted into the forced arbitration clause unless they take specific action to opt out of it within 30 days. Instead, if users chose to delete their accounts, the platform required them to accept the terms in order to access their account, from which they could then delete it, making acceptance of the new terms mandatory.
[[File:Discord Forced Arbitration 1.png|alt=An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application.|thumb|(2025-09-29) An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application. The terms of service at the time of this screenshot includes forced arbitration and disallows users from filing a class-action lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Discord |date=2025-09-29 |title=Terms of Service {{!}} Discord |url=https://discord.com/terms |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=Discord}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260222174800/https://discord.com/terms Archived])</ref>]]

===Third-Party customer service data breach (Oct. 2025)===
{{Main|Discord / 5CA Data Breach}}
In October 2025, Discord issued a press release announcing a "Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service [5CA]", in which "the unauthorized party [...] gained access to a small number of government‑ID images (e.g., driver’s license, passport) from users who had appealed an age determination," as well as other personal data provided to support.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-03 |title=Update on a Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251006163040/https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |archive-date=2025-10-06 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord}}</ref> The number of ID images accessed was approximately 70,000, and the third-party in question was later named as 5CA.<ref name=":2" /> The hackers involved in the breach have revealed that the data was accessed via Zendesk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Troy |date=2025-10-04 |title=X |url=https://x.com/troyhunt/status/1974558088847102289}}</ref>

===Announcement of age verification coming in March (Feb. 2026)===
{{Main|Discord's Mandatory Age Verification}}
In February 2026, Discord issued a press release announcing "enhanced teen safety features rolling out globally", which begins with a "rollout to new and existing users in early March", that may require users "to engage in an age-verification process to change certain settings or access sensitive content".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-09 |title=Discord Launches Teen-by-Default Settings Globally |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260209142047/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |archive-date=2026-02-09 |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=Discord}}</ref>

On February 9, 2026, a [https://www.change.org/p/prevent-discord-from-implementing-id-verification Change.org petition] was created to prevent Discord from implementing the age verification globally.

===Discord's connections to Palantir===
Discord in the UK once utilized<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=2026-02-23 |title=Discord distances itself from Persona age verification after user backlash |url=https://www.theverge.com/tech/878369/discord-persona-age-verification |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224163803/https://www.theverge.com/tech/878369/discord-persona-age-verification |archive-date=2026-02-24 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Giono |first=Catherina |date=2026-02-24 |title=Discord distances itself from Peter Thiel–backed verification software after its code was found on a Google Cloud endpoint |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260226164710/https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/ |archive-date=2026-02-26 |website=Fortune}}</ref> [[Persona]] as a third-party, specialized vendor for age verification, requiring UK-based users to submit facial scans or ID to access restricted content. A since redacted statement on the support.discord.com web-page under the "How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord" article stated<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260212201755/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |archive-date=2026-02-12 |website=Discord}}</ref>:{{Quote|"Important: If you're located in the UK, you may be part of an experiment where your information will be processed by an age-assurance vendor, Persona. The Information you submit will be temporarily stored for up to 7 days, then deleted. For ID document verification, all details are blurred except your photo and date of birth, so only what's truly needed for age verification is used".}}
[[File:Discord Article Changes.png|alt=This image shows the Screenshorts of the changes support article on Discord's support page|thumb|Changes between the 15th of February compared to the 19th of February 2026]]
After significant backlash from the online community, Discord has changed their statement under the article (as of February 19th, 2026)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218072524/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |archive-date=2026-02-18 |website=Discord}}</ref>: {{Quote|"Note: Some users in regions outside the UK and Australia may see age-assurance prompts when accessing certain features or settings as part of ongoing experiments."}}

Discord does not further clarify what the "experiments" entail. Furthermore, the more detailed help-center article does not contain any mentions of the vendor Persona. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=What’s Changing for UK Users Due to the UK Online Safety Act |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959-What-s-Changing-for-UK-Users-Due-to-the-UK-Online-Safety-Act |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228040004/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959-What-s-Changing-for-UK-and-Australian-Users |archive-date=2026-02-28 |website=Discord}}</ref> 

Persona is an identity verification tool producer, that has received $200 million dollars<ref>{{Cite web |last=Song |first=Rick |date=2026-01-21 |title=Announcing Persona’s $200M Series D |url=https://withpersona.com/blog/series-d |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218172300/https://withpersona.com/blog/series-d |archive-date=2026-02-18 |website=*Persona}}</ref> from the Founders Fund<ref>{{Cite web |title=Persona |url=https://foundersfund.com/company/persona/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228040423/https://foundersfund.com/company/persona/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Founders' Fund - Portfolio |url=https://foundersfund.com/portfolio/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228034728/https://foundersfund.com/portfolio/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref>, a venture capital group headed by Peter Thiel<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peter Thiel |url=https://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528193728/http://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/ |archive-date=2016-05-28 |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref>. Peter Thiel is also the co-founder of Palantir Technologies Inc, a global surveillance company.<ref name=":3" />

===Inactive account deletions===
Discord has a [[Inactive account deletion|deletion policy on inactive accounts]], in which accounts that are not used for 2 years or more may be scheduled for deletion. Before the deletion of an inactive account, users may receive an email or text message warning that their account is scheduled for deletion. Such policies could adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as hospitalization, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries that have prolonged internet shutdowns. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Librarian |date=2023-06-14 |title=Inactive Account Deletion |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210025748/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion |archive-date=2026-02-10 |website=Discord}}</ref>

===SDK vulnerability with Arc Raiders integration (March 2026)===
In March 2026, Timothy Meadows, a computer engineer discovered a privacy and security vulnerability that involved Discord's [[wikipedia:Software_development_kit|software developer kit (SDK)]] and integrations with the [[wikipedia:Arc_Raiders|Arc Raiders]] game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meadows |first=Timothy |date=3 Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders - Discord SDK Data Exposure |url=https://timothymeadows.com/arc-raiders-discord-sdk-data-exposure/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/pktbu |archive-date=2026-03-06 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=timothymeadows.com}}</ref> This vulnerability affected the users with their Discord account linked with the game, allowing the software to log and store locally Discord private conversations, user credentials and other user information in an unencrypted log file. If the Arc Raiders game crashes, this file could be sent to the game developers. Embark Studios disabled the SDK integration after the incident was announced. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Klotz |first=Aaron |date=Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders was accidentally recording Discord conversations into an unencrypted local game file — vulnerability in SDK could log messages and credentials in plaintext |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/pc-gaming/arc-raiders-was-accidentally-recording-discord-conversations-into-an-unencrypted-local-game-file-vulnerability-in-sdk-could-log-messages-and-credentials-in-plaintext |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/kWBIf |archive-date=2026-03-07 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=Tom's Hardware}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Marnell |first=Blair |date=6 Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders Was Recording Private Discord DMs |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/arc-raiders-was-recording-private-discord-dms/1100-6538629/|url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/2ZQ1M |archive-date=2026-03-08 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=Gamespot}}</ref>
Before the incident was known, when an user linked their Discord account, a pop-up claimed that Arc Raiders "cannot read users' messages". {{Citation needed}}

===Discord's Protection of Sexual Predators and Pedophiles (April 2025 - Present)===
[[File:Discord's protection of pedophiles.png|thumb|First Offence is a 24-hour mute, with it as an active violation that stays on your profile for up to 4 years, when going after active pedophiles.]]
In April 2025, Discord sees pedophiles as a protected class; they don't even care about your children. Anyone who takes action against them will be hit with the [https://discord.com/safety/hateful-conduct-policy-explainer hateful conduct policy] First offence on Discord for going after pedophiles will be shown in the image on the right. <ref>{{Cite news |last=Lim |first=Alex |date=April 24th , 2025 |title=Why Did Discord Make the Controversial Decision to Shut Down Ro-Cleaner? |url=https://pupuweb.com/why-did-discord-make-the-controversial-decision-to-shut-down-ro-cleaner/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250425034609if_/https://pupuweb.com/why-did-discord-make-the-controversial-decision-to-shut-down-ro-cleaner/ |archive-date=April 25th 2025 |access-date=April 25th 2025 |work=Pupuweb}}</ref> [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJD9MQLaQ-g No Text To Speech's video] also explains this!

==Solution to delete an account without agreeing to the updated ToS==

*Visit [https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/212500837-How-to-Delete-your-Discord-Account How to delete Discord account] and scroll to "Having Trouble Deleting Your Discord Account?" Find the link titled "Reach out to our support team". Direct link subject to user instance - http://dis.gd/support

*Fill out the "Submit a request" form. (A web search for "Submit a request Discord" may help users find the form. Be sure to answer the question "What can we help you with?" with "Help and Support" from the drop-down.) '''Please fill out the form using the same email address associated with your Discord account, as this process may need to be restarted if it is not.''' In the form, under "Type of question," there is an option for "Account deletion request". Proceed to fill out and submit the form with any other relevant information. An email will then be sent with further instructions, including how to proceed with account deletion, which involves responding to the email with "I confirm that I would like to delete the account associated with [user email]." '''The response must be received from the same email as the one associated with the Discord account.'''

==Solution to disable forced updates on Linux==
If you're running a .deb installation of Discord, you can disable forced updates by adding "SKIP_HOST_UPDATE": true to ~/.config/discord/settings.json.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pardomuan |first=Patar Isac |date=2025-04-26 |title=How I Bypassed Discord’s Forced Update on Linux |url=https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Medium |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251004041109/https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |archive-date=4 Oct 2025}}</ref>

==Consumer friendly alternatives==

*[https://stoat.chat/ Stoat] [https://github.com/stoatchat Stoat's GitHub]

[[File:Discord Vague Infringement example.png|thumb|An example of how Discord handles its moderation from a user's perspective.]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Discord]]
[[Category:Forced arbitration]]

Discord

2026-03-15T07:49:14Z

Obieden: /* Discord's Protection of Sexual Predators and Pedophiles (April 2025 - Present) */

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American technology company that runs a platform for messaging and calling targeted towards gamers.
|Founded=2015
|Industry=VoIP communications, instant messaging, videoconferences, content delivery, and social media
|Logo=Discord.svg
|ParentCompany=Discord Inc.
|Type=Private
|Website=https://discord.com
|CompanyAlias=Discord Inc.
}}
'''Discord''' is a proprietary VoIP and instant-messaging platform developed by Discord Inc. (formerly Hammer & Chisel, Inc.), co-founded by Jason Citron and Stanislav Vishnevskiy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Guadalupe |date=3 May 2018 |title=There Are 2.6 Billion Online Gamers in the World. This Startup Just May Connect Them All |url=https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503131556/https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |archive-date=3 May 2018 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Inc.}}</ref> Launched in 2015, the service has grown to over 150 million monthly active users as of 2025. While initially marketed towards PC gamers, Discord has expanded to multiple platforms, serving various communities and use cases, including education.<ref name="about-company">{{Cite web |date=15 Apr 2024 |title=About Discord <nowiki>|</nowiki> Our Mission and Values |url=https://discord.com/company/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250608013037/https://discord.com/company |archive-date=8 Jun 2025 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Discord}}</ref>

In April 2025, Humam Sakhnini (formerly King, Activision Blizzard) replaced Jason Citron as CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Discord Appoints Humam Sakhnini as Chief Executive Officer |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124072250/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

===Privacy<ref name="terms-of-service3">[https://discord.com/terms/ "Discord's Terms of Service"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216033955/https://discord.com/terms/ Archived])</ref>===
Mentioned within the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''':<ref name="privacy-policy3">[https://discord.com/privacy/ "Discord Privacy Policy"]. April 15, 2024. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034021/https://discord.com/privacy/ Archived]) ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025.</ref><ref name="community-guidelines2">[https://discord.com/guidelines/ "Discord Community Guidelines"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260216015550/https://discord.com/guidelines Archived])</ref>
*Collects a variety of user data, such as contact details; user generated messages and posts, including drafts; voice messages; payment information; server participation; device information, such as games being playing; log and event information related to use of Discord services as well as information from cookies and third party sources<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-29 |title=Privacy Policy: The information we collect |url=https://discord.com/privacy#3 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Discord |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128220720/https://discord.com/privacy |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref>
*Claims broad rights to user-generated content
*Stores deleted messages for undefined periods
*Retains personal information until deemed "no longer needed"
*Processes user content for "safety features and platform improvement"
*Shares data with related companies, vendors, and third-party service providers
*Opt-out behavioral tracking across platform features for personalization
*Maintains logs of IP addresses and device information for an undetermined amount of time, flags any user who has ever signed in with an EU IP address for inclusion within DSA transparency reports
*Sends a web request when any UI element is clicked and when typing
In 2019, Discord started requiring phone verification. The account will be locked until a phone number is added, regardless of account age or recent activity. The account will be automatically locked if the phone number is removed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=opal |date=2019-04-15 |title=guess I'm done with Discord |url=https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331090127/https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht |archive-date=2024-03-31 |website=wowana.me}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cadence |date=2020-06-06 |title=Why you shouldn't trust Discord |url=https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215170749/https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord |archive-date=2026-02-15 |website=cadence.moe}}</ref>

===Freedom===
In order to use Discord, users must agree to the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''', which includes agreeing to:<ref name="privacy-policy3" />
*Mandatory [[Forced arbitration|binding arbitration]] with [[class action|class-action]] waiver for U.S. users (From 19 October 2018)
*Granting a perpetual, transferable license to user content
*Broad terms of service, which allow for unilateral changes
*Termination of user accounts without prior notice at Discord's discretion
*No option to opt out of core data collection while using the service
*Discord possibly retaining content even after deletion by the user
Additionally, server owners have limited recourse if their servers are banned, and users are required to use Discord's payment processing for all monetary transactions.

===Transparency===
Discord's terms of service are lengthy and complex. In October 2025, the base terms are 29 pages long, with a reading level of 14th grade (equivalent to two years of tertiary education) and an estimated reading time of 42 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calculated using readabilitychecker.com based on current discord TOS. discord.com/terms |url=https://readabilitychecker.com/url |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210185029/https://readabilitychecker.com/url |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref> The 2021 version of Discord's ToS would take an estimated 275+ hours to read.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EULA of despair |url=https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |website=Penn State University Pilot Lab |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034102/https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Mentioned within the '''Discord Privacy Policy'''<ref name="privacy-policy3" /> and '''Community Guidelines''':<ref name="community-guidelines2" />
*Unclear processes for handling law enforcement requests
*Vague about data retention time frames
*Limited transparency regarding content moderation decisions<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=BBB - Discord, Inc. |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Better Business Bureau |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210184246/https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Trustpilot - Discord |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Trustpilot |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251112025215/https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref>
**Offending content not always displayed to the user, including metadata, filenames, timestamps, or the channel where it was posted
**No limits or restrictions on the age of content (e.g., users can be suspended due to something sent 1500 days ago)
*Lack of transparency in the server ban appeals process<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
*Limited disclosure of recommendation algorithm factors
*No clear disclosure of how the content is used for platform improvement
==Incidents==
===Introduction of forced arbitration (Oct. 2018)===
In October 2018, [[forced arbitration]] was added to the [[Terms of Service|terms of service]]. Users could opt out by sending an 'opt-out notice' to arbitration-opt-out@discord.com within 90 days of the ToS going in effect or registering their first account.'''<ref name="terms-of-service3" />'''

===Child safety concerns (June 2023)===
An [[wikipedia:NBC News|NBC News]] investigation in June 2023 uncovered widespread child safety issues on Discord, revealing systemic problems with the platform's user protection measures.

Investigators identified 35 separate cases where adults were criminally charged with "kidnapping, grooming, or sexual assault" involving contacts initiated through Discord. Additionally, 165 criminal prosecutions involving the sharing of child sexual exploitation material (CSAM) on the platform were documented.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFGoggin2023" class="citation web cs1">Goggin, Ben (21 Jun 2023). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 "Child predators are using Discord, a popular app among teens, for sextortion and abductions"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230621152318/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 Archived] from the original on 21 Jun 2023. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Child+predators+are+using+Discord%2C+a+popular+app+among+teens%2C+for+sextortion+and+abductions&rft.date=2023-06-21&rft.aulast=Goggin&rft.aufirst=Ben&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsocial-media%2Fdiscord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===FTC data collection investigation (Sept. 2024)===
In September 2024, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) released a comprehensive report examining Discord's data collection practices as part of a broader investigation into the data collection practices of social media platforms.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite class="citation web cs1">[https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf "A Look Behind the Screens: Examining the Data Practices of Social Media and Video Streaming Services"] (PDF). ''Federal Trade Commission''. 11 Sep 2024. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919133855/https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf Archived] (PDF) from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Federal+Trade+Commission&rft.atitle=A+Look+Behind+the+Screens%3A+Examining+the+Data+Practices+of+Social+Media+and+Video+Streaming+Services&rft.date=2024-09-11&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ftc.gov%2Fsystem%2Ffiles%2Fftc_gov%2Fpdf%2FSocial-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

The investigation revealed Discord collects extensive user data, including:
*Message content and metadata
*Voice-chat participation
*Server membership and activity
*Device and location information
Particular concern was raised about:
*[https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-312 Collection of data from users under 13]
*Handling of minors' user information
*Inadequate age-verification systems
The FTC identified multiple areas where Discord's practices put users at risk:
*Identity theft exposure
*Potential stalking risks
*Discrimination concerns
*Mental health and emotional impact

The FTC concluded that Discord's data practices posed unacceptable risks to users, particularly minors, and recommended significant reforms to the platform's privacy protection measures.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFTolentino2024" class="citation web cs1">Tolentino, Daysia (19 Sep 2024). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 "Social media companies engaged in 'vast surveillance,' FTC finds, calling status quo 'unacceptable'"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919171049/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 Archived] from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Social+media+companies+engaged+in+%27vast+surveillance%2C%27+FTC+finds%2C+calling+status+quo+%27unacceptable%27&rft.date=2024-09-19&rft.aulast=Tolentino&rft.aufirst=Daysia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsecurity%2Fsocial-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===Reinforcement of forced arbitration (Sept. 2025)===
Announced August 29th, 2025, and put into effect September 29th, 2025, Discord updated and re-iterated their [[forced arbitration]] clause but gave users another option to opt-out of forced arbitration until October 29th, 2025, for existing accounts, or 30 days after initial agreement for new accounts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-29 |title=Discord's Terms of Service |url=https://discord.com/terms#16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007023150/https://discord.com/terms#16 |archive-date=2025-10-07 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord.com}}</ref> Users are automatically opted into the forced arbitration clause unless they take specific action to opt out of it within 30 days. Instead, if users chose to delete their accounts, the platform required them to accept the terms in order to access their account, from which they could then delete it, making acceptance of the new terms mandatory.
[[File:Discord Forced Arbitration 1.png|alt=An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application.|thumb|(2025-09-29) An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application. The terms of service at the time of this screenshot includes forced arbitration and disallows users from filing a class-action lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Discord |date=2025-09-29 |title=Terms of Service {{!}} Discord |url=https://discord.com/terms |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=Discord}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260222174800/https://discord.com/terms Archived])</ref>]]

===Third-Party customer service data breach (Oct. 2025)===
{{Main|Discord / 5CA Data Breach}}
In October 2025, Discord issued a press release announcing a "Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service [5CA]", in which "the unauthorized party [...] gained access to a small number of government‑ID images (e.g., driver’s license, passport) from users who had appealed an age determination," as well as other personal data provided to support.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-03 |title=Update on a Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251006163040/https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |archive-date=2025-10-06 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord}}</ref> The number of ID images accessed was approximately 70,000, and the third-party in question was later named as 5CA.<ref name=":2" /> The hackers involved in the breach have revealed that the data was accessed via Zendesk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Troy |date=2025-10-04 |title=X |url=https://x.com/troyhunt/status/1974558088847102289}}</ref>

===Announcement of age verification coming in March (Feb. 2026)===
{{Main|Discord's Mandatory Age Verification}}
In February 2026, Discord issued a press release announcing "enhanced teen safety features rolling out globally", which begins with a "rollout to new and existing users in early March", that may require users "to engage in an age-verification process to change certain settings or access sensitive content".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-09 |title=Discord Launches Teen-by-Default Settings Globally |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260209142047/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |archive-date=2026-02-09 |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=Discord}}</ref>

On February 9, 2026, a [https://www.change.org/p/prevent-discord-from-implementing-id-verification Change.org petition] was created to prevent Discord from implementing the age verification globally.

===Discord's connections to Palantir===
Discord in the UK once utilized<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=2026-02-23 |title=Discord distances itself from Persona age verification after user backlash |url=https://www.theverge.com/tech/878369/discord-persona-age-verification |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224163803/https://www.theverge.com/tech/878369/discord-persona-age-verification |archive-date=2026-02-24 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Giono |first=Catherina |date=2026-02-24 |title=Discord distances itself from Peter Thiel–backed verification software after its code was found on a Google Cloud endpoint |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260226164710/https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/ |archive-date=2026-02-26 |website=Fortune}}</ref> [[Persona]] as a third-party, specialized vendor for age verification, requiring UK-based users to submit facial scans or ID to access restricted content. A since redacted statement on the support.discord.com web-page under the "How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord" article stated<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260212201755/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |archive-date=2026-02-12 |website=Discord}}</ref>:{{Quote|"Important: If you're located in the UK, you may be part of an experiment where your information will be processed by an age-assurance vendor, Persona. The Information you submit will be temporarily stored for up to 7 days, then deleted. For ID document verification, all details are blurred except your photo and date of birth, so only what's truly needed for age verification is used".}}
[[File:Discord Article Changes.png|alt=This image shows the Screenshorts of the changes support article on Discord's support page|thumb|Changes between the 15th of February compared to the 19th of February 2026]]
After significant backlash from the online community, Discord has changed their statement under the article (as of February 19th, 2026)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218072524/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |archive-date=2026-02-18 |website=Discord}}</ref>: {{Quote|"Note: Some users in regions outside the UK and Australia may see age-assurance prompts when accessing certain features or settings as part of ongoing experiments."}}

Discord does not further clarify what the "experiments" entail. Furthermore, the more detailed help-center article does not contain any mentions of the vendor Persona. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=What’s Changing for UK Users Due to the UK Online Safety Act |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959-What-s-Changing-for-UK-Users-Due-to-the-UK-Online-Safety-Act |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228040004/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959-What-s-Changing-for-UK-and-Australian-Users |archive-date=2026-02-28 |website=Discord}}</ref> 

Persona is an identity verification tool producer, that has received $200 million dollars<ref>{{Cite web |last=Song |first=Rick |date=2026-01-21 |title=Announcing Persona’s $200M Series D |url=https://withpersona.com/blog/series-d |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218172300/https://withpersona.com/blog/series-d |archive-date=2026-02-18 |website=*Persona}}</ref> from the Founders Fund<ref>{{Cite web |title=Persona |url=https://foundersfund.com/company/persona/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228040423/https://foundersfund.com/company/persona/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Founders' Fund - Portfolio |url=https://foundersfund.com/portfolio/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228034728/https://foundersfund.com/portfolio/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref>, a venture capital group headed by Peter Thiel<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peter Thiel |url=https://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528193728/http://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/ |archive-date=2016-05-28 |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref>. Peter Thiel is also the co-founder of Palantir Technologies Inc, a global surveillance company.<ref name=":3" />

===Inactive account deletions===
Discord has a [[Inactive account deletion|deletion policy on inactive accounts]], in which accounts that are not used for 2 years or more may be scheduled for deletion. Before the deletion of an inactive account, users may receive an email or text message warning that their account is scheduled for deletion. Such policies could adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as hospitalization, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries that have prolonged internet shutdowns. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Librarian |date=2023-06-14 |title=Inactive Account Deletion |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210025748/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion |archive-date=2026-02-10 |website=Discord}}</ref>

===SDK vulnerability with Arc Raiders integration (March 2026)===
In March 2026, Timothy Meadows, a computer engineer discovered a privacy and security vulnerability that involved Discord's [[wikipedia:Software_development_kit|software developer kit (SDK)]] and integrations with the [[wikipedia:Arc_Raiders|Arc Raiders]] game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meadows |first=Timothy |date=3 Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders - Discord SDK Data Exposure |url=https://timothymeadows.com/arc-raiders-discord-sdk-data-exposure/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/pktbu |archive-date=2026-03-06 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=timothymeadows.com}}</ref> This vulnerability affected the users with their Discord account linked with the game, allowing the software to log and store locally Discord private conversations, user credentials and other user information in an unencrypted log file. If the Arc Raiders game crashes, this file could be sent to the game developers. Embark Studios disabled the SDK integration after the incident was announced. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Klotz |first=Aaron |date=Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders was accidentally recording Discord conversations into an unencrypted local game file — vulnerability in SDK could log messages and credentials in plaintext |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/pc-gaming/arc-raiders-was-accidentally-recording-discord-conversations-into-an-unencrypted-local-game-file-vulnerability-in-sdk-could-log-messages-and-credentials-in-plaintext |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/kWBIf |archive-date=2026-03-07 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=Tom's Hardware}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Marnell |first=Blair |date=6 Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders Was Recording Private Discord DMs |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/arc-raiders-was-recording-private-discord-dms/1100-6538629/|url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/2ZQ1M |archive-date=2026-03-08 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=Gamespot}}</ref>
Before the incident was known, when an user linked their Discord account, a pop-up claimed that Arc Raiders "cannot read users' messages". {{Citation needed}}

===Discord's Protection of Sexual Predators and Pedophiles (April 2025 - Present)===
[[File:Discord's protection of pedophiles.png|thumb|First Offence is a 24-hour mute, with it as an active violation that stays on your profile for up to 4 years, when going after active pedophiles.]]
In April 2025, Discord sees pedophiles as a protected class; they don't even care about your children. Anyone who takes action against them will be hit with the [https://discord.com/safety/hateful-conduct-policy-explainer hateful conduct policy] First offence on Discord for going after pedophiles will be shown in the image on the right. <ref>{{Cite news |last=Lim |first=Alex |date=April 24th , 2025 |title=Why Did Discord Make the Controversial Decision to Shut Down Ro-Cleaner? |url=https://pupuweb.com/why-did-discord-make-the-controversial-decision-to-shut-down-ro-cleaner/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250425034609if_/https://pupuweb.com/why-did-discord-make-the-controversial-decision-to-shut-down-ro-cleaner/ |archive-date=April 25th 2025 |access-date=April 25th 2025 |work=Pupuweb}}</ref>

==Solution to delete an account without agreeing to the updated ToS==

*Visit [https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/212500837-How-to-Delete-your-Discord-Account How to delete Discord account] and scroll to "Having Trouble Deleting Your Discord Account?" Find the link titled "Reach out to our support team". Direct link subject to user instance - http://dis.gd/support

*Fill out the "Submit a request" form. (A web search for "Submit a request Discord" may help users find the form. Be sure to answer the question "What can we help you with?" with "Help and Support" from the drop-down.) '''Please fill out the form using the same email address associated with your Discord account, as this process may need to be restarted if it is not.''' In the form, under "Type of question," there is an option for "Account deletion request". Proceed to fill out and submit the form with any other relevant information. An email will then be sent with further instructions, including how to proceed with account deletion, which involves responding to the email with "I confirm that I would like to delete the account associated with [user email]." '''The response must be received from the same email as the one associated with the Discord account.'''

==Solution to disable forced updates on Linux==
If you're running a .deb installation of Discord, you can disable forced updates by adding "SKIP_HOST_UPDATE": true to ~/.config/discord/settings.json.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pardomuan |first=Patar Isac |date=2025-04-26 |title=How I Bypassed Discord’s Forced Update on Linux |url=https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Medium |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251004041109/https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |archive-date=4 Oct 2025}}</ref>

==Consumer friendly alternatives==

*[https://stoat.chat/ Stoat] [https://github.com/stoatchat Stoat's GitHub]

[[File:Discord Vague Infringement example.png|thumb|An example of how Discord handles its moderation from a user's perspective.]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Discord]]
[[Category:Forced arbitration]]

Discord

2026-03-15T00:31:09Z

Obieden: /* Discord's Protection of Sexual Predators and Pedophiles (April 2025 - Present) */

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American technology company that runs a platform for messaging and calling targeted towards gamers.
|Founded=2015
|Industry=VoIP communications, instant messaging, videoconferences, content delivery, and social media
|Logo=Discord.svg
|ParentCompany=Discord Inc.
|Type=Private
|Website=https://discord.com
|CompanyAlias=Discord Inc.
}}
'''Discord''' is a proprietary VoIP and instant-messaging platform developed by Discord Inc. (formerly Hammer & Chisel, Inc.), co-founded by Jason Citron and Stanislav Vishnevskiy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Guadalupe |date=3 May 2018 |title=There Are 2.6 Billion Online Gamers in the World. This Startup Just May Connect Them All |url=https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503131556/https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |archive-date=3 May 2018 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Inc.}}</ref> Launched in 2015, the service has grown to over 150 million monthly active users as of 2025. While initially marketed towards PC gamers, Discord has expanded to multiple platforms, serving various communities and use cases, including education.<ref name="about-company">{{Cite web |date=15 Apr 2024 |title=About Discord <nowiki>|</nowiki> Our Mission and Values |url=https://discord.com/company/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250608013037/https://discord.com/company |archive-date=8 Jun 2025 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Discord}}</ref>

In April 2025, Humam Sakhnini (formerly King, Activision Blizzard) replaced Jason Citron as CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Discord Appoints Humam Sakhnini as Chief Executive Officer |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124072250/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

===Privacy<ref name="terms-of-service3">[https://discord.com/terms/ "Discord's Terms of Service"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216033955/https://discord.com/terms/ Archived])</ref>===
Mentioned within the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''':<ref name="privacy-policy3">[https://discord.com/privacy/ "Discord Privacy Policy"]. April 15, 2024. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034021/https://discord.com/privacy/ Archived]) ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025.</ref><ref name="community-guidelines2">[https://discord.com/guidelines/ "Discord Community Guidelines"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260216015550/https://discord.com/guidelines Archived])</ref>
*Collects a variety of user data, such as contact details; user generated messages and posts, including drafts; voice messages; payment information; server participation; device information, such as games being playing; log and event information related to use of Discord services as well as information from cookies and third party sources<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-29 |title=Privacy Policy: The information we collect |url=https://discord.com/privacy#3 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Discord |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128220720/https://discord.com/privacy |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref>
*Claims broad rights to user-generated content
*Stores deleted messages for undefined periods
*Retains personal information until deemed "no longer needed"
*Processes user content for "safety features and platform improvement"
*Shares data with related companies, vendors, and third-party service providers
*Opt-out behavioral tracking across platform features for personalization
*Maintains logs of IP addresses and device information for an undetermined amount of time, flags any user who has ever signed in with an EU IP address for inclusion within DSA transparency reports
*Sends a web request when any UI element is clicked and when typing
In 2019, Discord started requiring phone verification. The account will be locked until a phone number is added, regardless of account age or recent activity. The account will be automatically locked if the phone number is removed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=opal |date=2019-04-15 |title=guess I'm done with Discord |url=https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331090127/https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht |archive-date=2024-03-31 |website=wowana.me}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cadence |date=2020-06-06 |title=Why you shouldn't trust Discord |url=https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215170749/https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord |archive-date=2026-02-15 |website=cadence.moe}}</ref>

===Freedom===
In order to use Discord, users must agree to the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''', which includes agreeing to:<ref name="privacy-policy3" />
*Mandatory [[Forced arbitration|binding arbitration]] with [[class action|class-action]] waiver for U.S. users (From 19 October 2018)
*Granting a perpetual, transferable license to user content
*Broad terms of service, which allow for unilateral changes
*Termination of user accounts without prior notice at Discord's discretion
*No option to opt out of core data collection while using the service
*Discord possibly retaining content even after deletion by the user
Additionally, server owners have limited recourse if their servers are banned, and users are required to use Discord's payment processing for all monetary transactions.

===Transparency===
Discord's terms of service are lengthy and complex. In October 2025, the base terms are 29 pages long, with a reading level of 14th grade (equivalent to two years of tertiary education) and an estimated reading time of 42 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calculated using readabilitychecker.com based on current discord TOS. discord.com/terms |url=https://readabilitychecker.com/url |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210185029/https://readabilitychecker.com/url |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref> The 2021 version of Discord's ToS would take an estimated 275+ hours to read.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EULA of despair |url=https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |website=Penn State University Pilot Lab |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034102/https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Mentioned within the '''Discord Privacy Policy'''<ref name="privacy-policy3" /> and '''Community Guidelines''':<ref name="community-guidelines2" />
*Unclear processes for handling law enforcement requests
*Vague about data retention time frames
*Limited transparency regarding content moderation decisions<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=BBB - Discord, Inc. |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Better Business Bureau |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210184246/https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Trustpilot - Discord |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Trustpilot |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251112025215/https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref>
**Offending content not always displayed to the user, including metadata, filenames, timestamps, or the channel where it was posted
**No limits or restrictions on the age of content (e.g., users can be suspended due to something sent 1500 days ago)
*Lack of transparency in the server ban appeals process<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
*Limited disclosure of recommendation algorithm factors
*No clear disclosure of how the content is used for platform improvement
==Incidents==
===Introduction of forced arbitration (Oct. 2018)===
In October 2018, [[forced arbitration]] was added to the [[Terms of Service|terms of service]]. Users could opt out by sending an 'opt-out notice' to arbitration-opt-out@discord.com within 90 days of the ToS going in effect or registering their first account.'''<ref name="terms-of-service3" />'''

===Child safety concerns (June 2023)===
An [[wikipedia:NBC News|NBC News]] investigation in June 2023 uncovered widespread child safety issues on Discord, revealing systemic problems with the platform's user protection measures.

Investigators identified 35 separate cases where adults were criminally charged with "kidnapping, grooming, or sexual assault" involving contacts initiated through Discord. Additionally, 165 criminal prosecutions involving the sharing of child sexual exploitation material (CSAM) on the platform were documented.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFGoggin2023" class="citation web cs1">Goggin, Ben (21 Jun 2023). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 "Child predators are using Discord, a popular app among teens, for sextortion and abductions"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230621152318/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 Archived] from the original on 21 Jun 2023. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Child+predators+are+using+Discord%2C+a+popular+app+among+teens%2C+for+sextortion+and+abductions&rft.date=2023-06-21&rft.aulast=Goggin&rft.aufirst=Ben&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsocial-media%2Fdiscord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===FTC data collection investigation (Sept. 2024)===
In September 2024, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) released a comprehensive report examining Discord's data collection practices as part of a broader investigation into the data collection practices of social media platforms.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite class="citation web cs1">[https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf "A Look Behind the Screens: Examining the Data Practices of Social Media and Video Streaming Services"] (PDF). ''Federal Trade Commission''. 11 Sep 2024. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919133855/https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf Archived] (PDF) from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Federal+Trade+Commission&rft.atitle=A+Look+Behind+the+Screens%3A+Examining+the+Data+Practices+of+Social+Media+and+Video+Streaming+Services&rft.date=2024-09-11&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ftc.gov%2Fsystem%2Ffiles%2Fftc_gov%2Fpdf%2FSocial-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

The investigation revealed Discord collects extensive user data, including:
*Message content and metadata
*Voice-chat participation
*Server membership and activity
*Device and location information
Particular concern was raised about:
*[https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-312 Collection of data from users under 13]
*Handling of minors' user information
*Inadequate age-verification systems
The FTC identified multiple areas where Discord's practices put users at risk:
*Identity theft exposure
*Potential stalking risks
*Discrimination concerns
*Mental health and emotional impact

The FTC concluded that Discord's data practices posed unacceptable risks to users, particularly minors, and recommended significant reforms to the platform's privacy protection measures.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFTolentino2024" class="citation web cs1">Tolentino, Daysia (19 Sep 2024). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 "Social media companies engaged in 'vast surveillance,' FTC finds, calling status quo 'unacceptable'"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919171049/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 Archived] from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Social+media+companies+engaged+in+%27vast+surveillance%2C%27+FTC+finds%2C+calling+status+quo+%27unacceptable%27&rft.date=2024-09-19&rft.aulast=Tolentino&rft.aufirst=Daysia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsecurity%2Fsocial-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===Reinforcement of forced arbitration (Sept. 2025)===
Announced August 29th, 2025, and put into effect September 29th, 2025, Discord updated and re-iterated their [[forced arbitration]] clause but gave users another option to opt-out of forced arbitration until October 29th, 2025, for existing accounts, or 30 days after initial agreement for new accounts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-29 |title=Discord's Terms of Service |url=https://discord.com/terms#16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007023150/https://discord.com/terms#16 |archive-date=2025-10-07 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord.com}}</ref> Users are automatically opted into the forced arbitration clause unless they take specific action to opt out of it within 30 days. Instead, if users chose to delete their accounts, the platform required them to accept the terms in order to access their account, from which they could then delete it, making acceptance of the new terms mandatory.
[[File:Discord Forced Arbitration 1.png|alt=An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application.|thumb|(2025-09-29) An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application. The terms of service at the time of this screenshot includes forced arbitration and disallows users from filing a class-action lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Discord |date=2025-09-29 |title=Terms of Service {{!}} Discord |url=https://discord.com/terms |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=Discord}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260222174800/https://discord.com/terms Archived])</ref>]]

===Third-Party customer service data breach (Oct. 2025)===
{{Main|Discord / 5CA Data Breach}}
In October 2025, Discord issued a press release announcing a "Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service [5CA]", in which "the unauthorized party [...] gained access to a small number of government‑ID images (e.g., driver’s license, passport) from users who had appealed an age determination," as well as other personal data provided to support.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-03 |title=Update on a Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251006163040/https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |archive-date=2025-10-06 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord}}</ref> The number of ID images accessed was approximately 70,000, and the third-party in question was later named as 5CA.<ref name=":2" /> The hackers involved in the breach have revealed that the data was accessed via Zendesk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Troy |date=2025-10-04 |title=X |url=https://x.com/troyhunt/status/1974558088847102289}}</ref>

===Announcement of age verification coming in March (Feb. 2026)===
{{Main|Discord's Mandatory Age Verification}}
In February 2026, Discord issued a press release announcing "enhanced teen safety features rolling out globally", which begins with a "rollout to new and existing users in early March", that may require users "to engage in an age-verification process to change certain settings or access sensitive content".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-09 |title=Discord Launches Teen-by-Default Settings Globally |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260209142047/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |archive-date=2026-02-09 |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=Discord}}</ref>

On February 9, 2026, a [https://www.change.org/p/prevent-discord-from-implementing-id-verification Change.org petition] was created to prevent Discord from implementing the age verification globally.

===Discord's connections to Palantir===
Discord in the UK once utilized<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=2026-02-23 |title=Discord distances itself from Persona age verification after user backlash |url=https://www.theverge.com/tech/878369/discord-persona-age-verification |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224163803/https://www.theverge.com/tech/878369/discord-persona-age-verification |archive-date=2026-02-24 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Giono |first=Catherina |date=2026-02-24 |title=Discord distances itself from Peter Thiel–backed verification software after its code was found on a Google Cloud endpoint |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260226164710/https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/ |archive-date=2026-02-26 |website=Fortune}}</ref> [[Persona]] as a third-party, specialized vendor for age verification, requiring UK-based users to submit facial scans or ID to access restricted content. A since redacted statement on the support.discord.com web-page under the "How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord" article stated<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260212201755/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |archive-date=2026-02-12 |website=Discord}}</ref>:{{Quote|"Important: If you're located in the UK, you may be part of an experiment where your information will be processed by an age-assurance vendor, Persona. The Information you submit will be temporarily stored for up to 7 days, then deleted. For ID document verification, all details are blurred except your photo and date of birth, so only what's truly needed for age verification is used".}}
[[File:Discord Article Changes.png|alt=This image shows the Screenshorts of the changes support article on Discord's support page|thumb|Changes between the 15th of February compared to the 19th of February 2026]]
After significant backlash from the online community, Discord has changed their statement under the article (as of February 19th, 2026)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218072524/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |archive-date=2026-02-18 |website=Discord}}</ref>: {{Quote|"Note: Some users in regions outside the UK and Australia may see age-assurance prompts when accessing certain features or settings as part of ongoing experiments."}}

Discord does not further clarify what the "experiments" entail. Furthermore, the more detailed help-center article does not contain any mentions of the vendor Persona. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=What’s Changing for UK Users Due to the UK Online Safety Act |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959-What-s-Changing-for-UK-Users-Due-to-the-UK-Online-Safety-Act |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228040004/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959-What-s-Changing-for-UK-and-Australian-Users |archive-date=2026-02-28 |website=Discord}}</ref> 

Persona is an identity verification tool producer, that has received $200 million dollars<ref>{{Cite web |last=Song |first=Rick |date=2026-01-21 |title=Announcing Persona’s $200M Series D |url=https://withpersona.com/blog/series-d |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218172300/https://withpersona.com/blog/series-d |archive-date=2026-02-18 |website=*Persona}}</ref> from the Founders Fund<ref>{{Cite web |title=Persona |url=https://foundersfund.com/company/persona/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228040423/https://foundersfund.com/company/persona/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Founders' Fund - Portfolio |url=https://foundersfund.com/portfolio/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228034728/https://foundersfund.com/portfolio/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref>, a venture capital group headed by Peter Thiel<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peter Thiel |url=https://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528193728/http://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/ |archive-date=2016-05-28 |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref>. Peter Thiel is also the co-founder of Palantir Technologies Inc, a global surveillance company.<ref name=":3" />

===Inactive account deletions===
Discord has a [[Inactive account deletion|deletion policy on inactive accounts]], in which accounts that are not used for 2 years or more may be scheduled for deletion. Before the deletion of an inactive account, users may receive an email or text message warning that their account is scheduled for deletion. Such policies could adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as hospitalization, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries that have prolonged internet shutdowns. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Librarian |date=2023-06-14 |title=Inactive Account Deletion |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210025748/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion |archive-date=2026-02-10 |website=Discord}}</ref>

===SDK vulnerability with Arc Raiders integration (March 2026)===
In March 2026, Timothy Meadows, a computer engineer discovered a privacy and security vulnerability that involved Discord's [[wikipedia:Software_development_kit|software developer kit (SDK)]] and integrations with the [[wikipedia:Arc_Raiders|Arc Raiders]] game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meadows |first=Timothy |date=3 Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders - Discord SDK Data Exposure |url=https://timothymeadows.com/arc-raiders-discord-sdk-data-exposure/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/pktbu |archive-date=2026-03-06 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=timothymeadows.com}}</ref> This vulnerability affected the users with their Discord account linked with the game, allowing the software to log and store locally Discord private conversations, user credentials and other user information in an unencrypted log file. If the Arc Raiders game crashes, this file could be sent to the game developers. Embark Studios disabled the SDK integration after the incident was announced. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Klotz |first=Aaron |date=Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders was accidentally recording Discord conversations into an unencrypted local game file — vulnerability in SDK could log messages and credentials in plaintext |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/pc-gaming/arc-raiders-was-accidentally-recording-discord-conversations-into-an-unencrypted-local-game-file-vulnerability-in-sdk-could-log-messages-and-credentials-in-plaintext |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/kWBIf |archive-date=2026-03-07 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=Tom's Hardware}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Marnell |first=Blair |date=6 Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders Was Recording Private Discord DMs |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/arc-raiders-was-recording-private-discord-dms/1100-6538629/|url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/2ZQ1M |archive-date=2026-03-08 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=Gamespot}}</ref>
Before the incident was known, when an user linked their Discord account, a pop-up claimed that Arc Raiders "cannot read users' messages". {{Citation needed}}

===Discord's Protection of Sexual Predators and Pedophiles (April 2025 - Present)===
[[File:Discord's protection of pedophiles.png|thumb|First Offence is a 24-hour mute, with it as an active violation that stays on your profile for up to 4 years, when going after active pedophiles.]]
In April 2025, Discord sees pedophiles as a protected class; they don't even care about your children. Anyone who takes action against them will be hit with the [https://discord.com/safety/hateful-conduct-policy-explainer hateful conduct policy] First offence on Discord for going after pedophiles will be shown in the image on the right. <ref>{{Cite news |first=Lucas |date=April 12th , 2025 |title=Discord Banned a Roblox Bot that Protects Kids... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJD9MQLaQ-g |url-status=live |access-date=March 14th , 2026 |work=No Text To Speech}}</ref>

==Solution to delete an account without agreeing to the updated ToS==

*Visit [https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/212500837-How-to-Delete-your-Discord-Account How to delete Discord account] and scroll to "Having Trouble Deleting Your Discord Account?" Find the link titled "Reach out to our support team". Direct link subject to user instance - http://dis.gd/support

*Fill out the "Submit a request" form. (A web search for "Submit a request Discord" may help users find the form. Be sure to answer the question "What can we help you with?" with "Help and Support" from the drop-down.) '''Please fill out the form using the same email address associated with your Discord account, as this process may need to be restarted if it is not.''' In the form, under "Type of question," there is an option for "Account deletion request". Proceed to fill out and submit the form with any other relevant information. An email will then be sent with further instructions, including how to proceed with account deletion, which involves responding to the email with "I confirm that I would like to delete the account associated with [user email]." '''The response must be received from the same email as the one associated with the Discord account.'''

==Solution to disable forced updates on Linux==
If you're running a .deb installation of Discord, you can disable forced updates by adding "SKIP_HOST_UPDATE": true to ~/.config/discord/settings.json.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pardomuan |first=Patar Isac |date=2025-04-26 |title=How I Bypassed Discord’s Forced Update on Linux |url=https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Medium |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251004041109/https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |archive-date=4 Oct 2025}}</ref>

==Consumer friendly alternatives==

*[https://stoat.chat/ Stoat] [https://github.com/stoatchat Stoat's GitHub]

[[File:Discord Vague Infringement example.png|thumb|An example of how Discord handles its moderation from a user's perspective.]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Discord]]
[[Category:Forced arbitration]]

Talk:Discord

2026-03-15T00:23:04Z

Obieden: /* requiring phone number for sign up */ Reply

Someone should rewrite this in a more editorial fashion. Right now it’s currently written in a way where it’s just screaming off into a void and while it does have citations it could be written in a better way. Someone should work on improving this. - [[User:Atsumari|Atsumari]] ([[User talk:Atsumari|talk]]) 08:46, 19 January 2025 (UTC)

Atsumari, please clarify what you mean by 'screaming off into a void'. Any constructive criticism is very valuable but this does not help me. I'd also like to contend the use of the tone warning on this page. Multiple admins have reviewed the format at this point and found no issue with the tone. [[User:Tob|Tob]] ([[User talk:Tob|talk]]) 19:26, 19 January 2025 (UTC)

Hi; I believe I remember you talking in the appeal channel and one of the staff did say what my concerns were. Once those corrections are done, we can totally remove the tone warning. It was literally just formatting of some of the bullet points. It looks like you’re already working on fixing those so once that’s done, we definitely can get that taken off unless other staff have other concerns. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. -[[User:Atsumari|Atsumari]] ([[User talk:Atsumari|talk]]) 14:51, 21 January 2025 (UTC)

I'm sure they did. Thanks for the assistance. [[User:Tob|Tob]] ([[User talk:Tob|talk]])

==IPO and "enshitification"==

So, there's been news about Discord planning on doing an IPO. Chances are that the platform will be facing changes similar to that of Reddit, notably killing 3rd party and legacy client access to the platform. This IPO stunt also will bring with it ads. Keep a close eye on news surrounding the platform as time goes on, and make sure to post any new info you find to this topic if you do not plan on integrating it into the article itself.

This is absolutely not going to be a pretty state for the platform, which will be bringing in user traffic to the wiki, and specifically this article, so please also polish the article in other areas as well! [[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 22:35, 31 March 2025 (UTC)

:Update: One of the founders of Discord left in April and was replaced by the former Vice Chairman of [[Activision Blizzard]] and former president of King (Candy Crush).
:https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/discord-cto-says-hes-constantly-bringing-up-enshittification-during-meetings/
:A bit that stuck out to me:
:"Fanning expectations of Discord going public soon and looking different in the future, Discord co-founder and CEO Jason Citron left in April. '''His replacement, Humam Sakhnini, has experience leading public companies, like Activision Blizzard.''' When Citron announced his departure in April, GamesBeat asked him if Discord was going public. Citron claimed there were 'no specific plans' but added that 'hiring someone like Humam is a step in that direction.'"
:The article is largely about Discord's co-founder, Stanislav Vishnevskiy, expressing concerns with enshittification. However, the new CEO being a former high-up executive from ''two'' exploitative game companies doesn't exactly instill confidence in me. Act-Blizz is quite infamous for doing a lot of anti-consumer practices- and remember that Discord was far from perfect before the change in leadership.
:I don't think the linked article is relevant enough to reference in this wiki article, but it contains some notable updates on the situation. [[User:Vindicator4021|- V (Vindicator4021)]] ([[User talk:Vindicator4021|talk]]) 23:57, 24 June 2025 (UTC)
::Thanks for the update, when wiki-relevant stuff begins to happen, we'll likely reference this article later on. [[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 06:38, 25 June 2025 (UTC)

==Reg. "Introduction of forced arbitration (Mar. 2024)"==

An arbitration clause has been present in the ToS since 2017 as evident by [https://web.archive.org/web/20170521173532/https://discordapp.com/terms#:~:text=ARBITRATION this archive], therefor that section is inaccurate and should probably be removed and/or edited to reflect that. [[User:Jerry|Jerry]] ([[User talk:Jerry|talk]]) 21:25, 7 October 2025 (UTC)

==Security risk: Presenting cryptic "direct link" in article==

The "direct link" to assist with account deletion seems like a security risk for the reader. The link is to a cryptic domain ( dis.gd ), not the primary one for this company. Anybody could edit that URL on the wiki, substituting one that lead to a malicious website. I think the link should be removed unless somebody knows how to make the link secure.
"Direct link subject to user instance - http://dis.gd ..."
Thanks. [[User:Drakeula|Drakeula]] ([[User talk:Drakeula|talk]]) 00:41, 9 October 2025 (UTC)

:https://dis.gd is discords official short link, you can see that they use it all over their product and marketing materials.
:For example, have a look at the "whats new" modal in settings, a couple of example tweets https://x.com/discord/status/1964018049868292122, https://x.com/discord/status/1944789856808554618, and some example support articles where it is used [https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/205082178-How-do-I-enable-push-to-talk-if-I-am-running-my-game-in-administrator-mode#:~:text=Dis.gd/contact here], [https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/26600878251159-Chargebacks-FAQ#:~:text=dis.gd/request here], and a [https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=dis.gd&filter_by=knowledge_base list of all articles with dis.gd in it] [[User:Jerry|Jerry]] ([[User talk:Jerry|talk]]) 21:49, 24 October 2025 (UTC)

==More sources==

https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord

Update: done!: https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Discord&diff=27038&oldid=26989

[[User:Rudxain|Rudxain]] ([[User talk:Rudxain|talk]]) 03:21, 11 October 2025 (UTC)

==requiring phone number for sign up==

just me or is this shit kinda universal at this point? don't matter the platform, Discord, IG, whatever. Signing up w an email always cues "To protect our users" where you gotta input a phn number for verification. Was thinking to add this but need to make sure it's widespread. btw shows up when not using a VPN and forward email aliases. [[User:SinexTitan|SinexTitan]] ([[User talk:SinexTitan|talk]]) 20:07, 4 December 2025 (UTC)

:it was better system when it just required email verification, it kept it simple. [[User:Obieden|Obieden]] ([[User talk:Obieden|talk]]) 00:23, 15 March 2026 (UTC)

==October 2025 Data Breach - Did Discord claim data would not be saved?==

Regarding "Third-Party Customer Service Data Breach (Oct. 2025)", can we see if Discord ever claimed that the data would not be retained? [[User:Ikubaysan|Ikubaysan]] ([[User talk:Ikubaysan|talk]]) 16:13, 11 February 2026 (UTC)

File:Discord's protection of pedophiles.png

2026-03-14T13:01:35Z

Obieden:

First Offence is a 24-hour mute, with it as an active violation that stays on your profile for up to 4 years, when going after active pedophiles.

Discord

2026-03-14T12:45:22Z

Obieden: /* Discord's Protection of Sexual Predators and Pedophiles (March 2025 - Present) */

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American technology company that runs a platform for messaging and calling targeted towards gamers.
|Founded=2015
|Industry=VoIP communications, instant messaging, videoconferences, content delivery, and social media
|Logo=Discord.svg
|ParentCompany=Discord Inc.
|Type=Private
|Website=https://discord.com
|CompanyAlias=Discord Inc.
}}
'''Discord''' is a proprietary VoIP and instant-messaging platform developed by Discord Inc. (formerly Hammer & Chisel, Inc.), co-founded by Jason Citron and Stanislav Vishnevskiy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Guadalupe |date=3 May 2018 |title=There Are 2.6 Billion Online Gamers in the World. This Startup Just May Connect Them All |url=https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503131556/https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |archive-date=3 May 2018 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Inc.}}</ref> Launched in 2015, the service has grown to over 150 million monthly active users as of 2025. While initially marketed towards PC gamers, Discord has expanded to multiple platforms, serving various communities and use cases, including education.<ref name="about-company">{{Cite web |date=15 Apr 2024 |title=About Discord <nowiki>|</nowiki> Our Mission and Values |url=https://discord.com/company/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250608013037/https://discord.com/company |archive-date=8 Jun 2025 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Discord}}</ref>

In April 2025, Humam Sakhnini (formerly King, Activision Blizzard) replaced Jason Citron as CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Discord Appoints Humam Sakhnini as Chief Executive Officer |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124072250/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

===Privacy<ref name="terms-of-service3">[https://discord.com/terms/ "Discord's Terms of Service"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216033955/https://discord.com/terms/ Archived])</ref>===
Mentioned within the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''':<ref name="privacy-policy3">[https://discord.com/privacy/ "Discord Privacy Policy"]. April 15, 2024. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034021/https://discord.com/privacy/ Archived]) ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025.</ref><ref name="community-guidelines2">[https://discord.com/guidelines/ "Discord Community Guidelines"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260216015550/https://discord.com/guidelines Archived])</ref>
*Collects a variety of user data, such as contact details; user generated messages and posts, including drafts; voice messages; payment information; server participation; device information, such as games being playing; log and event information related to use of Discord services as well as information from cookies and third party sources<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-29 |title=Privacy Policy: The information we collect |url=https://discord.com/privacy#3 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Discord |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128220720/https://discord.com/privacy |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref>
*Claims broad rights to user-generated content
*Stores deleted messages for undefined periods
*Retains personal information until deemed "no longer needed"
*Processes user content for "safety features and platform improvement"
*Shares data with related companies, vendors, and third-party service providers
*Opt-out behavioral tracking across platform features for personalization
*Maintains logs of IP addresses and device information for an undetermined amount of time, flags any user who has ever signed in with an EU IP address for inclusion within DSA transparency reports
*Sends a web request when any UI element is clicked and when typing
In 2019, Discord started requiring phone verification. The account will be locked until a phone number is added, regardless of account age or recent activity. The account will be automatically locked if the phone number is removed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=opal |date=2019-04-15 |title=guess I'm done with Discord |url=https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331090127/https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht |archive-date=2024-03-31 |website=wowana.me}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cadence |date=2020-06-06 |title=Why you shouldn't trust Discord |url=https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215170749/https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord |archive-date=2026-02-15 |website=cadence.moe}}</ref>

===Freedom===
In order to use Discord, users must agree to the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''', which includes agreeing to:<ref name="privacy-policy3" />
*Mandatory [[Forced arbitration|binding arbitration]] with [[class action|class-action]] waiver for U.S. users (From 19 October 2018)
*Granting a perpetual, transferable license to user content
*Broad terms of service, which allow for unilateral changes
*Termination of user accounts without prior notice at Discord's discretion
*No option to opt out of core data collection while using the service
*Discord possibly retaining content even after deletion by the user
Additionally, server owners have limited recourse if their servers are banned, and users are required to use Discord's payment processing for all monetary transactions.

===Transparency===
Discord's terms of service are lengthy and complex. In October 2025, the base terms are 29 pages long, with a reading level of 14th grade (equivalent to two years of tertiary education) and an estimated reading time of 42 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calculated using readabilitychecker.com based on current discord TOS. discord.com/terms |url=https://readabilitychecker.com/url |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210185029/https://readabilitychecker.com/url |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref> The 2021 version of Discord's ToS would take an estimated 275+ hours to read.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EULA of despair |url=https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |website=Penn State University Pilot Lab |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034102/https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Mentioned within the '''Discord Privacy Policy'''<ref name="privacy-policy3" /> and '''Community Guidelines''':<ref name="community-guidelines2" />
*Unclear processes for handling law enforcement requests
*Vague about data retention time frames
*Limited transparency regarding content moderation decisions<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=BBB - Discord, Inc. |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Better Business Bureau |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210184246/https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Trustpilot - Discord |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Trustpilot |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251112025215/https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref>
**Offending content not always displayed to the user, including metadata, filenames, timestamps, or the channel where it was posted
**No limits or restrictions on the age of content (e.g., users can be suspended due to something sent 1500 days ago)
*Lack of transparency in the server ban appeals process<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
*Limited disclosure of recommendation algorithm factors
*No clear disclosure of how the content is used for platform improvement
==Incidents==
===Introduction of forced arbitration (Oct. 2018)===
In October 2018, [[forced arbitration]] was added to the [[Terms of Service|terms of service]]. Users could opt out by sending an 'opt-out notice' to arbitration-opt-out@discord.com within 90 days of the ToS going in effect or registering their first account.'''<ref name="terms-of-service3" />'''

===Child safety concerns (June 2023)===
An [[wikipedia:NBC News|NBC News]] investigation in June 2023 uncovered widespread child safety issues on Discord, revealing systemic problems with the platform's user protection measures.

Investigators identified 35 separate cases where adults were criminally charged with "kidnapping, grooming, or sexual assault" involving contacts initiated through Discord. Additionally, 165 criminal prosecutions involving the sharing of child sexual exploitation material (CSAM) on the platform were documented.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFGoggin2023" class="citation web cs1">Goggin, Ben (21 Jun 2023). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 "Child predators are using Discord, a popular app among teens, for sextortion and abductions"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230621152318/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 Archived] from the original on 21 Jun 2023. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Child+predators+are+using+Discord%2C+a+popular+app+among+teens%2C+for+sextortion+and+abductions&rft.date=2023-06-21&rft.aulast=Goggin&rft.aufirst=Ben&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsocial-media%2Fdiscord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===FTC data collection investigation (Sept. 2024)===
In September 2024, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) released a comprehensive report examining Discord's data collection practices as part of a broader investigation into the data collection practices of social media platforms.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite class="citation web cs1">[https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf "A Look Behind the Screens: Examining the Data Practices of Social Media and Video Streaming Services"] (PDF). ''Federal Trade Commission''. 11 Sep 2024. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919133855/https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf Archived] (PDF) from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Federal+Trade+Commission&rft.atitle=A+Look+Behind+the+Screens%3A+Examining+the+Data+Practices+of+Social+Media+and+Video+Streaming+Services&rft.date=2024-09-11&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ftc.gov%2Fsystem%2Ffiles%2Fftc_gov%2Fpdf%2FSocial-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

The investigation revealed Discord collects extensive user data, including:
*Message content and metadata
*Voice-chat participation
*Server membership and activity
*Device and location information
Particular concern was raised about:
*[https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-312 Collection of data from users under 13]
*Handling of minors' user information
*Inadequate age-verification systems
The FTC identified multiple areas where Discord's practices put users at risk:
*Identity theft exposure
*Potential stalking risks
*Discrimination concerns
*Mental health and emotional impact

The FTC concluded that Discord's data practices posed unacceptable risks to users, particularly minors, and recommended significant reforms to the platform's privacy protection measures.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFTolentino2024" class="citation web cs1">Tolentino, Daysia (19 Sep 2024). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 "Social media companies engaged in 'vast surveillance,' FTC finds, calling status quo 'unacceptable'"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919171049/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 Archived] from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Social+media+companies+engaged+in+%27vast+surveillance%2C%27+FTC+finds%2C+calling+status+quo+%27unacceptable%27&rft.date=2024-09-19&rft.aulast=Tolentino&rft.aufirst=Daysia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsecurity%2Fsocial-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===Reinforcement of forced arbitration (Sept. 2025)===
Announced August 29th, 2025, and put into effect September 29th, 2025, Discord updated and re-iterated their [[forced arbitration]] clause but gave users another option to opt-out of forced arbitration until October 29th, 2025, for existing accounts, or 30 days after initial agreement for new accounts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-29 |title=Discord's Terms of Service |url=https://discord.com/terms#16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007023150/https://discord.com/terms#16 |archive-date=2025-10-07 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord.com}}</ref> Users are automatically opted into the forced arbitration clause unless they take specific action to opt out of it within 30 days. Instead, if users chose to delete their accounts, the platform required them to accept the terms in order to access their account, from which they could then delete it, making acceptance of the new terms mandatory.
[[File:Discord Forced Arbitration 1.png|alt=An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application.|thumb|(2025-09-29) An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application. The terms of service at the time of this screenshot includes forced arbitration and disallows users from filing a class-action lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Discord |date=2025-09-29 |title=Terms of Service {{!}} Discord |url=https://discord.com/terms |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=Discord}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260222174800/https://discord.com/terms Archived])</ref>]]

===Third-Party customer service data breach (Oct. 2025)===
{{Main|Discord / 5CA Data Breach}}
In October 2025, Discord issued a press release announcing a "Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service [5CA]", in which "the unauthorized party [...] gained access to a small number of government‑ID images (e.g., driver’s license, passport) from users who had appealed an age determination," as well as other personal data provided to support.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-03 |title=Update on a Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251006163040/https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |archive-date=2025-10-06 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord}}</ref> The number of ID images accessed was approximately 70,000, and the third-party in question was later named as 5CA.<ref name=":2" /> The hackers involved in the breach have revealed that the data was accessed via Zendesk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Troy |date=2025-10-04 |title=X |url=https://x.com/troyhunt/status/1974558088847102289}}</ref>

===Announcement of age verification coming in March (Feb. 2026)===
{{Main|Discord's Mandatory Age Verification}}
In February 2026, Discord issued a press release announcing "enhanced teen safety features rolling out globally", which begins with a "rollout to new and existing users in early March", that may require users "to engage in an age-verification process to change certain settings or access sensitive content".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-09 |title=Discord Launches Teen-by-Default Settings Globally |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260209142047/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |archive-date=2026-02-09 |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=Discord}}</ref>

On February 9, 2026, a [https://www.change.org/p/prevent-discord-from-implementing-id-verification Change.org petition] was created to prevent Discord from implementing the age verification globally.

===Discord's connections to Palantir===
Discord in the UK once utilized<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=2026-02-23 |title=Discord distances itself from Persona age verification after user backlash |url=https://www.theverge.com/tech/878369/discord-persona-age-verification |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224163803/https://www.theverge.com/tech/878369/discord-persona-age-verification |archive-date=2026-02-24 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Giono |first=Catherina |date=2026-02-24 |title=Discord distances itself from Peter Thiel–backed verification software after its code was found on a Google Cloud endpoint |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260226164710/https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/ |archive-date=2026-02-26 |website=Fortune}}</ref> [[Persona]] as a third-party, specialized vendor for age verification, requiring UK-based users to submit facial scans or ID to access restricted content. A since redacted statement on the support.discord.com web-page under the "How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord" article stated<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260212201755/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |archive-date=2026-02-12 |website=Discord}}</ref>:{{Quote|"Important: If you're located in the UK, you may be part of an experiment where your information will be processed by an age-assurance vendor, Persona. The Information you submit will be temporarily stored for up to 7 days, then deleted. For ID document verification, all details are blurred except your photo and date of birth, so only what's truly needed for age verification is used".}}
[[File:Discord Article Changes.png|alt=This image shows the Screenshorts of the changes support article on Discord's support page|thumb|Changes between the 15th of February compared to the 19th of February 2026]]
After significant backlash from the online community, Discord has changed their statement under the article (as of February 19th, 2026)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218072524/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |archive-date=2026-02-18 |website=Discord}}</ref>: {{Quote|"Note: Some users in regions outside the UK and Australia may see age-assurance prompts when accessing certain features or settings as part of ongoing experiments."}}

Discord does not further clarify what the "experiments" entail. Furthermore, the more detailed help-center article does not contain any mentions of the vendor Persona. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=What’s Changing for UK Users Due to the UK Online Safety Act |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959-What-s-Changing-for-UK-Users-Due-to-the-UK-Online-Safety-Act |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228040004/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959-What-s-Changing-for-UK-and-Australian-Users |archive-date=2026-02-28 |website=Discord}}</ref> 

Persona is an identity verification tool producer, that has received $200 million dollars<ref>{{Cite web |last=Song |first=Rick |date=2026-01-21 |title=Announcing Persona’s $200M Series D |url=https://withpersona.com/blog/series-d |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218172300/https://withpersona.com/blog/series-d |archive-date=2026-02-18 |website=*Persona}}</ref> from the Founders Fund<ref>{{Cite web |title=Persona |url=https://foundersfund.com/company/persona/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228040423/https://foundersfund.com/company/persona/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Founders' Fund - Portfolio |url=https://foundersfund.com/portfolio/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228034728/https://foundersfund.com/portfolio/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref>, a venture capital group headed by Peter Thiel<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peter Thiel |url=https://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528193728/http://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/ |archive-date=2016-05-28 |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref>. Peter Thiel is also the co-founder of Palantir Technologies Inc, a global surveillance company.<ref name=":3" />

===Inactive account deletions===
Discord has a [[Inactive account deletion|deletion policy on inactive accounts]], in which accounts that are not used for 2 years or more may be scheduled for deletion. Before the deletion of an inactive account, users may receive an email or text message warning that their account is scheduled for deletion. Such policies could adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as hospitalization, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries that have prolonged internet shutdowns. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Librarian |date=2023-06-14 |title=Inactive Account Deletion |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210025748/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion |archive-date=2026-02-10 |website=Discord}}</ref>

===SDK vulnerability with Arc Raiders integration (March 2026)===
In March 2026, Timothy Meadows, a computer engineer discovered a privacy and security vulnerability that involved Discord's [[wikipedia:Software_development_kit|software developer kit (SDK)]] and integrations with the [[wikipedia:Arc_Raiders|Arc Raiders]] game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meadows |first=Timothy |date=3 Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders - Discord SDK Data Exposure |url=https://timothymeadows.com/arc-raiders-discord-sdk-data-exposure/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/pktbu |archive-date=2026-03-06 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=timothymeadows.com}}</ref> This vulnerability affected the users with their Discord account linked with the game, allowing the software to log and store locally Discord private conversations, user credentials and other user information in an unencrypted log file. If the Arc Raiders game crashes, this file could be sent to the game developers. Embark Studios disabled the SDK integration after the incident was announced. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Klotz |first=Aaron |date=Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders was accidentally recording Discord conversations into an unencrypted local game file — vulnerability in SDK could log messages and credentials in plaintext |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/pc-gaming/arc-raiders-was-accidentally-recording-discord-conversations-into-an-unencrypted-local-game-file-vulnerability-in-sdk-could-log-messages-and-credentials-in-plaintext |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/kWBIf |archive-date=2026-03-07 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=Tom's Hardware}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Marnell |first=Blair |date=6 Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders Was Recording Private Discord DMs |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/arc-raiders-was-recording-private-discord-dms/1100-6538629/|url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/2ZQ1M |archive-date=2026-03-08 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=Gamespot}}</ref>
Before the incident was known, when an user linked their Discord account, a pop-up claimed that Arc Raiders "cannot read users' messages". {{Citation needed}}

===Discord's Protection of Sexual Predators and Pedophiles (April 2025 - Present)===
[[File:Discord's protection of pedophiles.png|thumb|First Offence is a 24-hour mute, with it as an active violation that stays on your profile for up to 4 years, when going after active pedophiles.]]
In March 2025, Discord sees pedophiles as a protected class; they don't even care about your children. Anyone who takes action against them will be hit with the [https://discord.com/safety/hateful-conduct-policy-explainer hateful conduct policy] First offence on Discord for going after pedophiles will be shown in the image on the right. <ref>{{Cite news |first=Lucas |date=April 12th , 2025 |title=Discord Banned a Roblox Bot that Protects Kids... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJD9MQLaQ-g |url-status=live |access-date=March 14th , 2026 |work=No Text To Speech}}</ref>

==Solution to delete an account without agreeing to the updated ToS==

*Visit [https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/212500837-How-to-Delete-your-Discord-Account How to delete Discord account] and scroll to "Having Trouble Deleting Your Discord Account?" Find the link titled "Reach out to our support team". Direct link subject to user instance - http://dis.gd/support

*Fill out the "Submit a request" form. (A web search for "Submit a request Discord" may help users find the form. Be sure to answer the question "What can we help you with?" with "Help and Support" from the drop-down.) '''Please fill out the form using the same email address associated with your Discord account, as this process may need to be restarted if it is not.''' In the form, under "Type of question," there is an option for "Account deletion request". Proceed to fill out and submit the form with any other relevant information. An email will then be sent with further instructions, including how to proceed with account deletion, which involves responding to the email with "I confirm that I would like to delete the account associated with [user email]." '''The response must be received from the same email as the one associated with the Discord account.'''

==Solution to disable forced updates on Linux==
If you're running a .deb installation of Discord, you can disable forced updates by adding "SKIP_HOST_UPDATE": true to ~/.config/discord/settings.json.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pardomuan |first=Patar Isac |date=2025-04-26 |title=How I Bypassed Discord’s Forced Update on Linux |url=https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Medium |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251004041109/https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |archive-date=4 Oct 2025}}</ref>[[File:Discord Vague Infringement example.png|thumb|An example of how Discord handles its moderation from a user's perspective.]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Discord]]
[[Category:Forced arbitration]]

Discord

2026-03-14T12:29:04Z

Obieden: /* Discord's Protection of Sexual Predators and Pedophiles (March 2025 - Present) */

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American technology company that runs a platform for messaging and calling targeted towards gamers.
|Founded=2015
|Industry=VoIP communications, instant messaging, videoconferences, content delivery, and social media
|Logo=Discord.svg
|ParentCompany=Discord Inc.
|Type=Private
|Website=https://discord.com
|CompanyAlias=Discord Inc.
}}
'''Discord''' is a proprietary VoIP and instant-messaging platform developed by Discord Inc. (formerly Hammer & Chisel, Inc.), co-founded by Jason Citron and Stanislav Vishnevskiy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Guadalupe |date=3 May 2018 |title=There Are 2.6 Billion Online Gamers in the World. This Startup Just May Connect Them All |url=https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503131556/https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |archive-date=3 May 2018 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Inc.}}</ref> Launched in 2015, the service has grown to over 150 million monthly active users as of 2025. While initially marketed towards PC gamers, Discord has expanded to multiple platforms, serving various communities and use cases, including education.<ref name="about-company">{{Cite web |date=15 Apr 2024 |title=About Discord <nowiki>|</nowiki> Our Mission and Values |url=https://discord.com/company/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250608013037/https://discord.com/company |archive-date=8 Jun 2025 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Discord}}</ref>

In April 2025, Humam Sakhnini (formerly King, Activision Blizzard) replaced Jason Citron as CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Discord Appoints Humam Sakhnini as Chief Executive Officer |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124072250/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

===Privacy<ref name="terms-of-service3">[https://discord.com/terms/ "Discord's Terms of Service"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216033955/https://discord.com/terms/ Archived])</ref>===
Mentioned within the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''':<ref name="privacy-policy3">[https://discord.com/privacy/ "Discord Privacy Policy"]. April 15, 2024. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034021/https://discord.com/privacy/ Archived]) ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025.</ref><ref name="community-guidelines2">[https://discord.com/guidelines/ "Discord Community Guidelines"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260216015550/https://discord.com/guidelines Archived])</ref>
*Collects a variety of user data, such as contact details; user generated messages and posts, including drafts; voice messages; payment information; server participation; device information, such as games being playing; log and event information related to use of Discord services as well as information from cookies and third party sources<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-29 |title=Privacy Policy: The information we collect |url=https://discord.com/privacy#3 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Discord |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128220720/https://discord.com/privacy |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref>
*Claims broad rights to user-generated content
*Stores deleted messages for undefined periods
*Retains personal information until deemed "no longer needed"
*Processes user content for "safety features and platform improvement"
*Shares data with related companies, vendors, and third-party service providers
*Opt-out behavioral tracking across platform features for personalization
*Maintains logs of IP addresses and device information for an undetermined amount of time, flags any user who has ever signed in with an EU IP address for inclusion within DSA transparency reports
*Sends a web request when any UI element is clicked and when typing
In 2019, Discord started requiring phone verification. The account will be locked until a phone number is added, regardless of account age or recent activity. The account will be automatically locked if the phone number is removed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=opal |date=2019-04-15 |title=guess I'm done with Discord |url=https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331090127/https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht |archive-date=2024-03-31 |website=wowana.me}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cadence |date=2020-06-06 |title=Why you shouldn't trust Discord |url=https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215170749/https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord |archive-date=2026-02-15 |website=cadence.moe}}</ref>

===Freedom===
In order to use Discord, users must agree to the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''', which includes agreeing to:<ref name="privacy-policy3" />
*Mandatory [[Forced arbitration|binding arbitration]] with [[class action|class-action]] waiver for U.S. users (From 19 October 2018)
*Granting a perpetual, transferable license to user content
*Broad terms of service, which allow for unilateral changes
*Termination of user accounts without prior notice at Discord's discretion
*No option to opt out of core data collection while using the service
*Discord possibly retaining content even after deletion by the user
Additionally, server owners have limited recourse if their servers are banned, and users are required to use Discord's payment processing for all monetary transactions.

===Transparency===
Discord's terms of service are lengthy and complex. In October 2025, the base terms are 29 pages long, with a reading level of 14th grade (equivalent to two years of tertiary education) and an estimated reading time of 42 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calculated using readabilitychecker.com based on current discord TOS. discord.com/terms |url=https://readabilitychecker.com/url |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210185029/https://readabilitychecker.com/url |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref> The 2021 version of Discord's ToS would take an estimated 275+ hours to read.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EULA of despair |url=https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |website=Penn State University Pilot Lab |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034102/https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Mentioned within the '''Discord Privacy Policy'''<ref name="privacy-policy3" /> and '''Community Guidelines''':<ref name="community-guidelines2" />
*Unclear processes for handling law enforcement requests
*Vague about data retention time frames
*Limited transparency regarding content moderation decisions<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=BBB - Discord, Inc. |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Better Business Bureau |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210184246/https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Trustpilot - Discord |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Trustpilot |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251112025215/https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref>
**Offending content not always displayed to the user, including metadata, filenames, timestamps, or the channel where it was posted
**No limits or restrictions on the age of content (e.g., users can be suspended due to something sent 1500 days ago)
*Lack of transparency in the server ban appeals process<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
*Limited disclosure of recommendation algorithm factors
*No clear disclosure of how the content is used for platform improvement
==Incidents==
===Introduction of forced arbitration (Oct. 2018)===
In October 2018, [[forced arbitration]] was added to the [[Terms of Service|terms of service]]. Users could opt out by sending an 'opt-out notice' to arbitration-opt-out@discord.com within 90 days of the ToS going in effect or registering their first account.'''<ref name="terms-of-service3" />'''

===Child safety concerns (June 2023)===
An [[wikipedia:NBC News|NBC News]] investigation in June 2023 uncovered widespread child safety issues on Discord, revealing systemic problems with the platform's user protection measures.

Investigators identified 35 separate cases where adults were criminally charged with "kidnapping, grooming, or sexual assault" involving contacts initiated through Discord. Additionally, 165 criminal prosecutions involving the sharing of child sexual exploitation material (CSAM) on the platform were documented.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFGoggin2023" class="citation web cs1">Goggin, Ben (21 Jun 2023). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 "Child predators are using Discord, a popular app among teens, for sextortion and abductions"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230621152318/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 Archived] from the original on 21 Jun 2023. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Child+predators+are+using+Discord%2C+a+popular+app+among+teens%2C+for+sextortion+and+abductions&rft.date=2023-06-21&rft.aulast=Goggin&rft.aufirst=Ben&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsocial-media%2Fdiscord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===FTC data collection investigation (Sept. 2024)===
In September 2024, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) released a comprehensive report examining Discord's data collection practices as part of a broader investigation into the data collection practices of social media platforms.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite class="citation web cs1">[https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf "A Look Behind the Screens: Examining the Data Practices of Social Media and Video Streaming Services"] (PDF). ''Federal Trade Commission''. 11 Sep 2024. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919133855/https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf Archived] (PDF) from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Federal+Trade+Commission&rft.atitle=A+Look+Behind+the+Screens%3A+Examining+the+Data+Practices+of+Social+Media+and+Video+Streaming+Services&rft.date=2024-09-11&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ftc.gov%2Fsystem%2Ffiles%2Fftc_gov%2Fpdf%2FSocial-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

The investigation revealed Discord collects extensive user data, including:
*Message content and metadata
*Voice-chat participation
*Server membership and activity
*Device and location information
Particular concern was raised about:
*[https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-312 Collection of data from users under 13]
*Handling of minors' user information
*Inadequate age-verification systems
The FTC identified multiple areas where Discord's practices put users at risk:
*Identity theft exposure
*Potential stalking risks
*Discrimination concerns
*Mental health and emotional impact

The FTC concluded that Discord's data practices posed unacceptable risks to users, particularly minors, and recommended significant reforms to the platform's privacy protection measures.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFTolentino2024" class="citation web cs1">Tolentino, Daysia (19 Sep 2024). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 "Social media companies engaged in 'vast surveillance,' FTC finds, calling status quo 'unacceptable'"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919171049/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 Archived] from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Social+media+companies+engaged+in+%27vast+surveillance%2C%27+FTC+finds%2C+calling+status+quo+%27unacceptable%27&rft.date=2024-09-19&rft.aulast=Tolentino&rft.aufirst=Daysia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsecurity%2Fsocial-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===Reinforcement of forced arbitration (Sept. 2025)===
Announced August 29th, 2025, and put into effect September 29th, 2025, Discord updated and re-iterated their [[forced arbitration]] clause but gave users another option to opt-out of forced arbitration until October 29th, 2025, for existing accounts, or 30 days after initial agreement for new accounts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-29 |title=Discord's Terms of Service |url=https://discord.com/terms#16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007023150/https://discord.com/terms#16 |archive-date=2025-10-07 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord.com}}</ref> Users are automatically opted into the forced arbitration clause unless they take specific action to opt out of it within 30 days. Instead, if users chose to delete their accounts, the platform required them to accept the terms in order to access their account, from which they could then delete it, making acceptance of the new terms mandatory.
[[File:Discord Forced Arbitration 1.png|alt=An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application.|thumb|(2025-09-29) An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application. The terms of service at the time of this screenshot includes forced arbitration and disallows users from filing a class-action lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Discord |date=2025-09-29 |title=Terms of Service {{!}} Discord |url=https://discord.com/terms |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=Discord}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260222174800/https://discord.com/terms Archived])</ref>]]

===Third-Party customer service data breach (Oct. 2025)===
{{Main|Discord / 5CA Data Breach}}
In October 2025, Discord issued a press release announcing a "Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service [5CA]", in which "the unauthorized party [...] gained access to a small number of government‑ID images (e.g., driver’s license, passport) from users who had appealed an age determination," as well as other personal data provided to support.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-03 |title=Update on a Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251006163040/https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |archive-date=2025-10-06 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord}}</ref> The number of ID images accessed was approximately 70,000, and the third-party in question was later named as 5CA.<ref name=":2" /> The hackers involved in the breach have revealed that the data was accessed via Zendesk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Troy |date=2025-10-04 |title=X |url=https://x.com/troyhunt/status/1974558088847102289}}</ref>

===Announcement of age verification coming in March (Feb. 2026)===
{{Main|Discord's Mandatory Age Verification}}
In February 2026, Discord issued a press release announcing "enhanced teen safety features rolling out globally", which begins with a "rollout to new and existing users in early March", that may require users "to engage in an age-verification process to change certain settings or access sensitive content".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-09 |title=Discord Launches Teen-by-Default Settings Globally |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260209142047/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |archive-date=2026-02-09 |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=Discord}}</ref>

On February 9, 2026, a [https://www.change.org/p/prevent-discord-from-implementing-id-verification Change.org petition] was created to prevent Discord from implementing the age verification globally.

===Discord's connections to Palantir===
Discord in the UK once utilized<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=2026-02-23 |title=Discord distances itself from Persona age verification after user backlash |url=https://www.theverge.com/tech/878369/discord-persona-age-verification |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224163803/https://www.theverge.com/tech/878369/discord-persona-age-verification |archive-date=2026-02-24 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Giono |first=Catherina |date=2026-02-24 |title=Discord distances itself from Peter Thiel–backed verification software after its code was found on a Google Cloud endpoint |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260226164710/https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/ |archive-date=2026-02-26 |website=Fortune}}</ref> [[Persona]] as a third-party, specialized vendor for age verification, requiring UK-based users to submit facial scans or ID to access restricted content. A since redacted statement on the support.discord.com web-page under the "How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord" article stated<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260212201755/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |archive-date=2026-02-12 |website=Discord}}</ref>:{{Quote|"Important: If you're located in the UK, you may be part of an experiment where your information will be processed by an age-assurance vendor, Persona. The Information you submit will be temporarily stored for up to 7 days, then deleted. For ID document verification, all details are blurred except your photo and date of birth, so only what's truly needed for age verification is used".}}
[[File:Discord Article Changes.png|alt=This image shows the Screenshorts of the changes support article on Discord's support page|thumb|Changes between the 15th of February compared to the 19th of February 2026]]
After significant backlash from the online community, Discord has changed their statement under the article (as of February 19th, 2026)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218072524/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |archive-date=2026-02-18 |website=Discord}}</ref>: {{Quote|"Note: Some users in regions outside the UK and Australia may see age-assurance prompts when accessing certain features or settings as part of ongoing experiments."}}

Discord does not further clarify what the "experiments" entail. Furthermore, the more detailed help-center article does not contain any mentions of the vendor Persona. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=What’s Changing for UK Users Due to the UK Online Safety Act |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959-What-s-Changing-for-UK-Users-Due-to-the-UK-Online-Safety-Act |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228040004/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959-What-s-Changing-for-UK-and-Australian-Users |archive-date=2026-02-28 |website=Discord}}</ref> 

Persona is an identity verification tool producer, that has received $200 million dollars<ref>{{Cite web |last=Song |first=Rick |date=2026-01-21 |title=Announcing Persona’s $200M Series D |url=https://withpersona.com/blog/series-d |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218172300/https://withpersona.com/blog/series-d |archive-date=2026-02-18 |website=*Persona}}</ref> from the Founders Fund<ref>{{Cite web |title=Persona |url=https://foundersfund.com/company/persona/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228040423/https://foundersfund.com/company/persona/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Founders' Fund - Portfolio |url=https://foundersfund.com/portfolio/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228034728/https://foundersfund.com/portfolio/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref>, a venture capital group headed by Peter Thiel<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peter Thiel |url=https://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528193728/http://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/ |archive-date=2016-05-28 |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref>. Peter Thiel is also the co-founder of Palantir Technologies Inc, a global surveillance company.<ref name=":3" />

===Inactive account deletions===
Discord has a [[Inactive account deletion|deletion policy on inactive accounts]], in which accounts that are not used for 2 years or more may be scheduled for deletion. Before the deletion of an inactive account, users may receive an email or text message warning that their account is scheduled for deletion. Such policies could adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as hospitalization, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries that have prolonged internet shutdowns. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Librarian |date=2023-06-14 |title=Inactive Account Deletion |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210025748/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion |archive-date=2026-02-10 |website=Discord}}</ref>

===SDK vulnerability with Arc Raiders integration (March 2026)===
In March 2026, Timothy Meadows, a computer engineer discovered a privacy and security vulnerability that involved Discord's [[wikipedia:Software_development_kit|software developer kit (SDK)]] and integrations with the [[wikipedia:Arc_Raiders|Arc Raiders]] game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meadows |first=Timothy |date=3 Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders - Discord SDK Data Exposure |url=https://timothymeadows.com/arc-raiders-discord-sdk-data-exposure/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/pktbu |archive-date=2026-03-06 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=timothymeadows.com}}</ref> This vulnerability affected the users with their Discord account linked with the game, allowing the software to log and store locally Discord private conversations, user credentials and other user information in an unencrypted log file. If the Arc Raiders game crashes, this file could be sent to the game developers. Embark Studios disabled the SDK integration after the incident was announced. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Klotz |first=Aaron |date=Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders was accidentally recording Discord conversations into an unencrypted local game file — vulnerability in SDK could log messages and credentials in plaintext |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/pc-gaming/arc-raiders-was-accidentally-recording-discord-conversations-into-an-unencrypted-local-game-file-vulnerability-in-sdk-could-log-messages-and-credentials-in-plaintext |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/kWBIf |archive-date=2026-03-07 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=Tom's Hardware}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Marnell |first=Blair |date=6 Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders Was Recording Private Discord DMs |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/arc-raiders-was-recording-private-discord-dms/1100-6538629/|url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/2ZQ1M |archive-date=2026-03-08 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=Gamespot}}</ref>
Before the incident was known, when an user linked their Discord account, a pop-up claimed that Arc Raiders "cannot read users' messages". {{Citation needed}}

===Discord's Protection of Sexual Predators and Pedophiles (March 2025 - Present)===
[[File:Discord's protection of pedophiles.png|thumb|First Offence is a 24-hour mute, with it as an active violation that stays on your profile for up to 4 years, when going after active pedophiles.]]
In March 2025, Discord sees pedophiles as a protected class; they don't even care about your children. Anyone who takes action against them will be hit with the [https://discord.com/safety/hateful-conduct-policy-explainer hateful conduct policy] First offence on Discord for going after pedophiles will be shown in the image on the right. <ref>{{Cite news |first=Lucas |date=April 12th , 2025 |title=Discord Banned a Roblox Bot that Protects Kids... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJD9MQLaQ-g |url-status=live |access-date=March 14th , 2026 |work=No Text To Speech}}</ref>

==Solution to delete an account without agreeing to the updated ToS==

*Visit [https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/212500837-How-to-Delete-your-Discord-Account How to delete Discord account] and scroll to "Having Trouble Deleting Your Discord Account?" Find the link titled "Reach out to our support team". Direct link subject to user instance - http://dis.gd/support

*Fill out the "Submit a request" form. (A web search for "Submit a request Discord" may help users find the form. Be sure to answer the question "What can we help you with?" with "Help and Support" from the drop-down.) '''Please fill out the form using the same email address associated with your Discord account, as this process may need to be restarted if it is not.''' In the form, under "Type of question," there is an option for "Account deletion request". Proceed to fill out and submit the form with any other relevant information. An email will then be sent with further instructions, including how to proceed with account deletion, which involves responding to the email with "I confirm that I would like to delete the account associated with [user email]." '''The response must be received from the same email as the one associated with the Discord account.'''

==Solution to disable forced updates on Linux==
If you're running a .deb installation of Discord, you can disable forced updates by adding "SKIP_HOST_UPDATE": true to ~/.config/discord/settings.json.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pardomuan |first=Patar Isac |date=2025-04-26 |title=How I Bypassed Discord’s Forced Update on Linux |url=https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Medium |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251004041109/https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |archive-date=4 Oct 2025}}</ref>[[File:Discord Vague Infringement example.png|thumb|An example of how Discord handles its moderation from a user's perspective.]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Discord]]
[[Category:Forced arbitration]]

Discord

2026-03-14T12:28:25Z

Obieden: /* Discord's Protection of Sexual Predators and Pedophiles (March 2024 - Present) */

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American technology company that runs a platform for messaging and calling targeted towards gamers.
|Founded=2015
|Industry=VoIP communications, instant messaging, videoconferences, content delivery, and social media
|Logo=Discord.svg
|ParentCompany=Discord Inc.
|Type=Private
|Website=https://discord.com
|CompanyAlias=Discord Inc.
}}
'''Discord''' is a proprietary VoIP and instant-messaging platform developed by Discord Inc. (formerly Hammer & Chisel, Inc.), co-founded by Jason Citron and Stanislav Vishnevskiy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Guadalupe |date=3 May 2018 |title=There Are 2.6 Billion Online Gamers in the World. This Startup Just May Connect Them All |url=https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503131556/https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |archive-date=3 May 2018 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Inc.}}</ref> Launched in 2015, the service has grown to over 150 million monthly active users as of 2025. While initially marketed towards PC gamers, Discord has expanded to multiple platforms, serving various communities and use cases, including education.<ref name="about-company">{{Cite web |date=15 Apr 2024 |title=About Discord <nowiki>|</nowiki> Our Mission and Values |url=https://discord.com/company/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250608013037/https://discord.com/company |archive-date=8 Jun 2025 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Discord}}</ref>

In April 2025, Humam Sakhnini (formerly King, Activision Blizzard) replaced Jason Citron as CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Discord Appoints Humam Sakhnini as Chief Executive Officer |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124072250/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

===Privacy<ref name="terms-of-service3">[https://discord.com/terms/ "Discord's Terms of Service"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216033955/https://discord.com/terms/ Archived])</ref>===
Mentioned within the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''':<ref name="privacy-policy3">[https://discord.com/privacy/ "Discord Privacy Policy"]. April 15, 2024. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034021/https://discord.com/privacy/ Archived]) ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025.</ref><ref name="community-guidelines2">[https://discord.com/guidelines/ "Discord Community Guidelines"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260216015550/https://discord.com/guidelines Archived])</ref>
*Collects a variety of user data, such as contact details; user generated messages and posts, including drafts; voice messages; payment information; server participation; device information, such as games being playing; log and event information related to use of Discord services as well as information from cookies and third party sources<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-29 |title=Privacy Policy: The information we collect |url=https://discord.com/privacy#3 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Discord |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128220720/https://discord.com/privacy |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref>
*Claims broad rights to user-generated content
*Stores deleted messages for undefined periods
*Retains personal information until deemed "no longer needed"
*Processes user content for "safety features and platform improvement"
*Shares data with related companies, vendors, and third-party service providers
*Opt-out behavioral tracking across platform features for personalization
*Maintains logs of IP addresses and device information for an undetermined amount of time, flags any user who has ever signed in with an EU IP address for inclusion within DSA transparency reports
*Sends a web request when any UI element is clicked and when typing
In 2019, Discord started requiring phone verification. The account will be locked until a phone number is added, regardless of account age or recent activity. The account will be automatically locked if the phone number is removed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=opal |date=2019-04-15 |title=guess I'm done with Discord |url=https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331090127/https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht |archive-date=2024-03-31 |website=wowana.me}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cadence |date=2020-06-06 |title=Why you shouldn't trust Discord |url=https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215170749/https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord |archive-date=2026-02-15 |website=cadence.moe}}</ref>

===Freedom===
In order to use Discord, users must agree to the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''', which includes agreeing to:<ref name="privacy-policy3" />
*Mandatory [[Forced arbitration|binding arbitration]] with [[class action|class-action]] waiver for U.S. users (From 19 October 2018)
*Granting a perpetual, transferable license to user content
*Broad terms of service, which allow for unilateral changes
*Termination of user accounts without prior notice at Discord's discretion
*No option to opt out of core data collection while using the service
*Discord possibly retaining content even after deletion by the user
Additionally, server owners have limited recourse if their servers are banned, and users are required to use Discord's payment processing for all monetary transactions.

===Transparency===
Discord's terms of service are lengthy and complex. In October 2025, the base terms are 29 pages long, with a reading level of 14th grade (equivalent to two years of tertiary education) and an estimated reading time of 42 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calculated using readabilitychecker.com based on current discord TOS. discord.com/terms |url=https://readabilitychecker.com/url |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210185029/https://readabilitychecker.com/url |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref> The 2021 version of Discord's ToS would take an estimated 275+ hours to read.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EULA of despair |url=https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |website=Penn State University Pilot Lab |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034102/https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Mentioned within the '''Discord Privacy Policy'''<ref name="privacy-policy3" /> and '''Community Guidelines''':<ref name="community-guidelines2" />
*Unclear processes for handling law enforcement requests
*Vague about data retention time frames
*Limited transparency regarding content moderation decisions<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=BBB - Discord, Inc. |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Better Business Bureau |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210184246/https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Trustpilot - Discord |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Trustpilot |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251112025215/https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref>
**Offending content not always displayed to the user, including metadata, filenames, timestamps, or the channel where it was posted
**No limits or restrictions on the age of content (e.g., users can be suspended due to something sent 1500 days ago)
*Lack of transparency in the server ban appeals process<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
*Limited disclosure of recommendation algorithm factors
*No clear disclosure of how the content is used for platform improvement
==Incidents==
===Introduction of forced arbitration (Oct. 2018)===
In October 2018, [[forced arbitration]] was added to the [[Terms of Service|terms of service]]. Users could opt out by sending an 'opt-out notice' to arbitration-opt-out@discord.com within 90 days of the ToS going in effect or registering their first account.'''<ref name="terms-of-service3" />'''

===Child safety concerns (June 2023)===
An [[wikipedia:NBC News|NBC News]] investigation in June 2023 uncovered widespread child safety issues on Discord, revealing systemic problems with the platform's user protection measures.

Investigators identified 35 separate cases where adults were criminally charged with "kidnapping, grooming, or sexual assault" involving contacts initiated through Discord. Additionally, 165 criminal prosecutions involving the sharing of child sexual exploitation material (CSAM) on the platform were documented.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFGoggin2023" class="citation web cs1">Goggin, Ben (21 Jun 2023). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 "Child predators are using Discord, a popular app among teens, for sextortion and abductions"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230621152318/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 Archived] from the original on 21 Jun 2023. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Child+predators+are+using+Discord%2C+a+popular+app+among+teens%2C+for+sextortion+and+abductions&rft.date=2023-06-21&rft.aulast=Goggin&rft.aufirst=Ben&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsocial-media%2Fdiscord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===FTC data collection investigation (Sept. 2024)===
In September 2024, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) released a comprehensive report examining Discord's data collection practices as part of a broader investigation into the data collection practices of social media platforms.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite class="citation web cs1">[https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf "A Look Behind the Screens: Examining the Data Practices of Social Media and Video Streaming Services"] (PDF). ''Federal Trade Commission''. 11 Sep 2024. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919133855/https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf Archived] (PDF) from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Federal+Trade+Commission&rft.atitle=A+Look+Behind+the+Screens%3A+Examining+the+Data+Practices+of+Social+Media+and+Video+Streaming+Services&rft.date=2024-09-11&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ftc.gov%2Fsystem%2Ffiles%2Fftc_gov%2Fpdf%2FSocial-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

The investigation revealed Discord collects extensive user data, including:
*Message content and metadata
*Voice-chat participation
*Server membership and activity
*Device and location information
Particular concern was raised about:
*[https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-312 Collection of data from users under 13]
*Handling of minors' user information
*Inadequate age-verification systems
The FTC identified multiple areas where Discord's practices put users at risk:
*Identity theft exposure
*Potential stalking risks
*Discrimination concerns
*Mental health and emotional impact

The FTC concluded that Discord's data practices posed unacceptable risks to users, particularly minors, and recommended significant reforms to the platform's privacy protection measures.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFTolentino2024" class="citation web cs1">Tolentino, Daysia (19 Sep 2024). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 "Social media companies engaged in 'vast surveillance,' FTC finds, calling status quo 'unacceptable'"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919171049/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 Archived] from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Social+media+companies+engaged+in+%27vast+surveillance%2C%27+FTC+finds%2C+calling+status+quo+%27unacceptable%27&rft.date=2024-09-19&rft.aulast=Tolentino&rft.aufirst=Daysia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsecurity%2Fsocial-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===Reinforcement of forced arbitration (Sept. 2025)===
Announced August 29th, 2025, and put into effect September 29th, 2025, Discord updated and re-iterated their [[forced arbitration]] clause but gave users another option to opt-out of forced arbitration until October 29th, 2025, for existing accounts, or 30 days after initial agreement for new accounts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-29 |title=Discord's Terms of Service |url=https://discord.com/terms#16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007023150/https://discord.com/terms#16 |archive-date=2025-10-07 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord.com}}</ref> Users are automatically opted into the forced arbitration clause unless they take specific action to opt out of it within 30 days. Instead, if users chose to delete their accounts, the platform required them to accept the terms in order to access their account, from which they could then delete it, making acceptance of the new terms mandatory.
[[File:Discord Forced Arbitration 1.png|alt=An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application.|thumb|(2025-09-29) An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application. The terms of service at the time of this screenshot includes forced arbitration and disallows users from filing a class-action lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Discord |date=2025-09-29 |title=Terms of Service {{!}} Discord |url=https://discord.com/terms |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=Discord}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260222174800/https://discord.com/terms Archived])</ref>]]

===Third-Party customer service data breach (Oct. 2025)===
{{Main|Discord / 5CA Data Breach}}
In October 2025, Discord issued a press release announcing a "Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service [5CA]", in which "the unauthorized party [...] gained access to a small number of government‑ID images (e.g., driver’s license, passport) from users who had appealed an age determination," as well as other personal data provided to support.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-03 |title=Update on a Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251006163040/https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |archive-date=2025-10-06 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord}}</ref> The number of ID images accessed was approximately 70,000, and the third-party in question was later named as 5CA.<ref name=":2" /> The hackers involved in the breach have revealed that the data was accessed via Zendesk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Troy |date=2025-10-04 |title=X |url=https://x.com/troyhunt/status/1974558088847102289}}</ref>

===Announcement of age verification coming in March (Feb. 2026)===
{{Main|Discord's Mandatory Age Verification}}
In February 2026, Discord issued a press release announcing "enhanced teen safety features rolling out globally", which begins with a "rollout to new and existing users in early March", that may require users "to engage in an age-verification process to change certain settings or access sensitive content".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-09 |title=Discord Launches Teen-by-Default Settings Globally |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260209142047/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |archive-date=2026-02-09 |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=Discord}}</ref>

On February 9, 2026, a [https://www.change.org/p/prevent-discord-from-implementing-id-verification Change.org petition] was created to prevent Discord from implementing the age verification globally.

===Discord's connections to Palantir===
Discord in the UK once utilized<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=2026-02-23 |title=Discord distances itself from Persona age verification after user backlash |url=https://www.theverge.com/tech/878369/discord-persona-age-verification |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224163803/https://www.theverge.com/tech/878369/discord-persona-age-verification |archive-date=2026-02-24 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Giono |first=Catherina |date=2026-02-24 |title=Discord distances itself from Peter Thiel–backed verification software after its code was found on a Google Cloud endpoint |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260226164710/https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/ |archive-date=2026-02-26 |website=Fortune}}</ref> [[Persona]] as a third-party, specialized vendor for age verification, requiring UK-based users to submit facial scans or ID to access restricted content. A since redacted statement on the support.discord.com web-page under the "How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord" article stated<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260212201755/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |archive-date=2026-02-12 |website=Discord}}</ref>:{{Quote|"Important: If you're located in the UK, you may be part of an experiment where your information will be processed by an age-assurance vendor, Persona. The Information you submit will be temporarily stored for up to 7 days, then deleted. For ID document verification, all details are blurred except your photo and date of birth, so only what's truly needed for age verification is used".}}
[[File:Discord Article Changes.png|alt=This image shows the Screenshorts of the changes support article on Discord's support page|thumb|Changes between the 15th of February compared to the 19th of February 2026]]
After significant backlash from the online community, Discord has changed their statement under the article (as of February 19th, 2026)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218072524/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |archive-date=2026-02-18 |website=Discord}}</ref>: {{Quote|"Note: Some users in regions outside the UK and Australia may see age-assurance prompts when accessing certain features or settings as part of ongoing experiments."}}

Discord does not further clarify what the "experiments" entail. Furthermore, the more detailed help-center article does not contain any mentions of the vendor Persona. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=What’s Changing for UK Users Due to the UK Online Safety Act |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959-What-s-Changing-for-UK-Users-Due-to-the-UK-Online-Safety-Act |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228040004/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959-What-s-Changing-for-UK-and-Australian-Users |archive-date=2026-02-28 |website=Discord}}</ref> 

Persona is an identity verification tool producer, that has received $200 million dollars<ref>{{Cite web |last=Song |first=Rick |date=2026-01-21 |title=Announcing Persona’s $200M Series D |url=https://withpersona.com/blog/series-d |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218172300/https://withpersona.com/blog/series-d |archive-date=2026-02-18 |website=*Persona}}</ref> from the Founders Fund<ref>{{Cite web |title=Persona |url=https://foundersfund.com/company/persona/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228040423/https://foundersfund.com/company/persona/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Founders' Fund - Portfolio |url=https://foundersfund.com/portfolio/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228034728/https://foundersfund.com/portfolio/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref>, a venture capital group headed by Peter Thiel<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peter Thiel |url=https://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528193728/http://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/ |archive-date=2016-05-28 |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref>. Peter Thiel is also the co-founder of Palantir Technologies Inc, a global surveillance company.<ref name=":3" />

===Inactive account deletions===
Discord has a [[Inactive account deletion|deletion policy on inactive accounts]], in which accounts that are not used for 2 years or more may be scheduled for deletion. Before the deletion of an inactive account, users may receive an email or text message warning that their account is scheduled for deletion. Such policies could adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as hospitalization, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries that have prolonged internet shutdowns. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Librarian |date=2023-06-14 |title=Inactive Account Deletion |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210025748/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion |archive-date=2026-02-10 |website=Discord}}</ref>

===SDK vulnerability with Arc Raiders integration (March 2026)===
In March 2026, Timothy Meadows, a computer engineer discovered a privacy and security vulnerability that involved Discord's [[wikipedia:Software_development_kit|software developer kit (SDK)]] and integrations with the [[wikipedia:Arc_Raiders|Arc Raiders]] game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meadows |first=Timothy |date=3 Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders - Discord SDK Data Exposure |url=https://timothymeadows.com/arc-raiders-discord-sdk-data-exposure/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/pktbu |archive-date=2026-03-06 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=timothymeadows.com}}</ref> This vulnerability affected the users with their Discord account linked with the game, allowing the software to log and store locally Discord private conversations, user credentials and other user information in an unencrypted log file. If the Arc Raiders game crashes, this file could be sent to the game developers. Embark Studios disabled the SDK integration after the incident was announced. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Klotz |first=Aaron |date=Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders was accidentally recording Discord conversations into an unencrypted local game file — vulnerability in SDK could log messages and credentials in plaintext |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/pc-gaming/arc-raiders-was-accidentally-recording-discord-conversations-into-an-unencrypted-local-game-file-vulnerability-in-sdk-could-log-messages-and-credentials-in-plaintext |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/kWBIf |archive-date=2026-03-07 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=Tom's Hardware}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Marnell |first=Blair |date=6 Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders Was Recording Private Discord DMs |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/arc-raiders-was-recording-private-discord-dms/1100-6538629/|url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/2ZQ1M |archive-date=2026-03-08 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=Gamespot}}</ref>
Before the incident was known, when an user linked their Discord account, a pop-up claimed that Arc Raiders "cannot read users' messages". {{Citation needed}}

===Discord's Protection of Sexual Predators and Pedophiles (March 2025 - Present)===
[[File:Discord's protection of pedophiles.png|thumb|First Offence is a 24-hour mute, with it as an active violation that stays on your profile for up to 4 years, when going after active pedophiles.]]
In March 2024, Discord sees pedophiles as a protected class; they don't even care about your children. Anyone who takes action against them will be hit with the [https://discord.com/safety/hateful-conduct-policy-explainer hateful conduct policy] First offence on Discord for going after pedophiles will be shown in the image on the right. <ref>{{Cite news |first=Lucas |date=April 12th , 2025 |title=Discord Banned a Roblox Bot that Protects Kids... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJD9MQLaQ-g |url-status=live |access-date=March 14th , 2026 |work=No Text To Speech}}</ref>

==Solution to delete an account without agreeing to the updated ToS==

*Visit [https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/212500837-How-to-Delete-your-Discord-Account How to delete Discord account] and scroll to "Having Trouble Deleting Your Discord Account?" Find the link titled "Reach out to our support team". Direct link subject to user instance - http://dis.gd/support

*Fill out the "Submit a request" form. (A web search for "Submit a request Discord" may help users find the form. Be sure to answer the question "What can we help you with?" with "Help and Support" from the drop-down.) '''Please fill out the form using the same email address associated with your Discord account, as this process may need to be restarted if it is not.''' In the form, under "Type of question," there is an option for "Account deletion request". Proceed to fill out and submit the form with any other relevant information. An email will then be sent with further instructions, including how to proceed with account deletion, which involves responding to the email with "I confirm that I would like to delete the account associated with [user email]." '''The response must be received from the same email as the one associated with the Discord account.'''

==Solution to disable forced updates on Linux==
If you're running a .deb installation of Discord, you can disable forced updates by adding "SKIP_HOST_UPDATE": true to ~/.config/discord/settings.json.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pardomuan |first=Patar Isac |date=2025-04-26 |title=How I Bypassed Discord’s Forced Update on Linux |url=https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Medium |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251004041109/https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |archive-date=4 Oct 2025}}</ref>[[File:Discord Vague Infringement example.png|thumb|An example of how Discord handles its moderation from a user's perspective.]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Discord]]
[[Category:Forced arbitration]]

Discord

2026-03-14T12:26:48Z

Obieden: /* Discord's Protection of Sexual Predators and Pedophiles (March 2024 - Present) */

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American technology company that runs a platform for messaging and calling targeted towards gamers.
|Founded=2015
|Industry=VoIP communications, instant messaging, videoconferences, content delivery, and social media
|Logo=Discord.svg
|ParentCompany=Discord Inc.
|Type=Private
|Website=https://discord.com
|CompanyAlias=Discord Inc.
}}
'''Discord''' is a proprietary VoIP and instant-messaging platform developed by Discord Inc. (formerly Hammer & Chisel, Inc.), co-founded by Jason Citron and Stanislav Vishnevskiy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Guadalupe |date=3 May 2018 |title=There Are 2.6 Billion Online Gamers in the World. This Startup Just May Connect Them All |url=https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503131556/https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |archive-date=3 May 2018 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Inc.}}</ref> Launched in 2015, the service has grown to over 150 million monthly active users as of 2025. While initially marketed towards PC gamers, Discord has expanded to multiple platforms, serving various communities and use cases, including education.<ref name="about-company">{{Cite web |date=15 Apr 2024 |title=About Discord <nowiki>|</nowiki> Our Mission and Values |url=https://discord.com/company/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250608013037/https://discord.com/company |archive-date=8 Jun 2025 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Discord}}</ref>

In April 2025, Humam Sakhnini (formerly King, Activision Blizzard) replaced Jason Citron as CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Discord Appoints Humam Sakhnini as Chief Executive Officer |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124072250/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

===Privacy<ref name="terms-of-service3">[https://discord.com/terms/ "Discord's Terms of Service"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216033955/https://discord.com/terms/ Archived])</ref>===
Mentioned within the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''':<ref name="privacy-policy3">[https://discord.com/privacy/ "Discord Privacy Policy"]. April 15, 2024. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034021/https://discord.com/privacy/ Archived]) ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025.</ref><ref name="community-guidelines2">[https://discord.com/guidelines/ "Discord Community Guidelines"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260216015550/https://discord.com/guidelines Archived])</ref>
*Collects a variety of user data, such as contact details; user generated messages and posts, including drafts; voice messages; payment information; server participation; device information, such as games being playing; log and event information related to use of Discord services as well as information from cookies and third party sources<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-29 |title=Privacy Policy: The information we collect |url=https://discord.com/privacy#3 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Discord |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128220720/https://discord.com/privacy |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref>
*Claims broad rights to user-generated content
*Stores deleted messages for undefined periods
*Retains personal information until deemed "no longer needed"
*Processes user content for "safety features and platform improvement"
*Shares data with related companies, vendors, and third-party service providers
*Opt-out behavioral tracking across platform features for personalization
*Maintains logs of IP addresses and device information for an undetermined amount of time, flags any user who has ever signed in with an EU IP address for inclusion within DSA transparency reports
*Sends a web request when any UI element is clicked and when typing
In 2019, Discord started requiring phone verification. The account will be locked until a phone number is added, regardless of account age or recent activity. The account will be automatically locked if the phone number is removed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=opal |date=2019-04-15 |title=guess I'm done with Discord |url=https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331090127/https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht |archive-date=2024-03-31 |website=wowana.me}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cadence |date=2020-06-06 |title=Why you shouldn't trust Discord |url=https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215170749/https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord |archive-date=2026-02-15 |website=cadence.moe}}</ref>

===Freedom===
In order to use Discord, users must agree to the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''', which includes agreeing to:<ref name="privacy-policy3" />
*Mandatory [[Forced arbitration|binding arbitration]] with [[class action|class-action]] waiver for U.S. users (From 19 October 2018)
*Granting a perpetual, transferable license to user content
*Broad terms of service, which allow for unilateral changes
*Termination of user accounts without prior notice at Discord's discretion
*No option to opt out of core data collection while using the service
*Discord possibly retaining content even after deletion by the user
Additionally, server owners have limited recourse if their servers are banned, and users are required to use Discord's payment processing for all monetary transactions.

===Transparency===
Discord's terms of service are lengthy and complex. In October 2025, the base terms are 29 pages long, with a reading level of 14th grade (equivalent to two years of tertiary education) and an estimated reading time of 42 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calculated using readabilitychecker.com based on current discord TOS. discord.com/terms |url=https://readabilitychecker.com/url |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210185029/https://readabilitychecker.com/url |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref> The 2021 version of Discord's ToS would take an estimated 275+ hours to read.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EULA of despair |url=https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |website=Penn State University Pilot Lab |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034102/https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Mentioned within the '''Discord Privacy Policy'''<ref name="privacy-policy3" /> and '''Community Guidelines''':<ref name="community-guidelines2" />
*Unclear processes for handling law enforcement requests
*Vague about data retention time frames
*Limited transparency regarding content moderation decisions<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=BBB - Discord, Inc. |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Better Business Bureau |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210184246/https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Trustpilot - Discord |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Trustpilot |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251112025215/https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref>
**Offending content not always displayed to the user, including metadata, filenames, timestamps, or the channel where it was posted
**No limits or restrictions on the age of content (e.g., users can be suspended due to something sent 1500 days ago)
*Lack of transparency in the server ban appeals process<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
*Limited disclosure of recommendation algorithm factors
*No clear disclosure of how the content is used for platform improvement
==Incidents==
===Introduction of forced arbitration (Oct. 2018)===
In October 2018, [[forced arbitration]] was added to the [[Terms of Service|terms of service]]. Users could opt out by sending an 'opt-out notice' to arbitration-opt-out@discord.com within 90 days of the ToS going in effect or registering their first account.'''<ref name="terms-of-service3" />'''

===Child safety concerns (June 2023)===
An [[wikipedia:NBC News|NBC News]] investigation in June 2023 uncovered widespread child safety issues on Discord, revealing systemic problems with the platform's user protection measures.

Investigators identified 35 separate cases where adults were criminally charged with "kidnapping, grooming, or sexual assault" involving contacts initiated through Discord. Additionally, 165 criminal prosecutions involving the sharing of child sexual exploitation material (CSAM) on the platform were documented.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFGoggin2023" class="citation web cs1">Goggin, Ben (21 Jun 2023). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 "Child predators are using Discord, a popular app among teens, for sextortion and abductions"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230621152318/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 Archived] from the original on 21 Jun 2023. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Child+predators+are+using+Discord%2C+a+popular+app+among+teens%2C+for+sextortion+and+abductions&rft.date=2023-06-21&rft.aulast=Goggin&rft.aufirst=Ben&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsocial-media%2Fdiscord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===FTC data collection investigation (Sept. 2024)===
In September 2024, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) released a comprehensive report examining Discord's data collection practices as part of a broader investigation into the data collection practices of social media platforms.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite class="citation web cs1">[https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf "A Look Behind the Screens: Examining the Data Practices of Social Media and Video Streaming Services"] (PDF). ''Federal Trade Commission''. 11 Sep 2024. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919133855/https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf Archived] (PDF) from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Federal+Trade+Commission&rft.atitle=A+Look+Behind+the+Screens%3A+Examining+the+Data+Practices+of+Social+Media+and+Video+Streaming+Services&rft.date=2024-09-11&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ftc.gov%2Fsystem%2Ffiles%2Fftc_gov%2Fpdf%2FSocial-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

The investigation revealed Discord collects extensive user data, including:
*Message content and metadata
*Voice-chat participation
*Server membership and activity
*Device and location information
Particular concern was raised about:
*[https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-312 Collection of data from users under 13]
*Handling of minors' user information
*Inadequate age-verification systems
The FTC identified multiple areas where Discord's practices put users at risk:
*Identity theft exposure
*Potential stalking risks
*Discrimination concerns
*Mental health and emotional impact

The FTC concluded that Discord's data practices posed unacceptable risks to users, particularly minors, and recommended significant reforms to the platform's privacy protection measures.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFTolentino2024" class="citation web cs1">Tolentino, Daysia (19 Sep 2024). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 "Social media companies engaged in 'vast surveillance,' FTC finds, calling status quo 'unacceptable'"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919171049/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 Archived] from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Social+media+companies+engaged+in+%27vast+surveillance%2C%27+FTC+finds%2C+calling+status+quo+%27unacceptable%27&rft.date=2024-09-19&rft.aulast=Tolentino&rft.aufirst=Daysia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsecurity%2Fsocial-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===Reinforcement of forced arbitration (Sept. 2025)===
Announced August 29th, 2025, and put into effect September 29th, 2025, Discord updated and re-iterated their [[forced arbitration]] clause but gave users another option to opt-out of forced arbitration until October 29th, 2025, for existing accounts, or 30 days after initial agreement for new accounts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-29 |title=Discord's Terms of Service |url=https://discord.com/terms#16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007023150/https://discord.com/terms#16 |archive-date=2025-10-07 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord.com}}</ref> Users are automatically opted into the forced arbitration clause unless they take specific action to opt out of it within 30 days. Instead, if users chose to delete their accounts, the platform required them to accept the terms in order to access their account, from which they could then delete it, making acceptance of the new terms mandatory.
[[File:Discord Forced Arbitration 1.png|alt=An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application.|thumb|(2025-09-29) An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application. The terms of service at the time of this screenshot includes forced arbitration and disallows users from filing a class-action lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Discord |date=2025-09-29 |title=Terms of Service {{!}} Discord |url=https://discord.com/terms |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=Discord}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260222174800/https://discord.com/terms Archived])</ref>]]

===Third-Party customer service data breach (Oct. 2025)===
{{Main|Discord / 5CA Data Breach}}
In October 2025, Discord issued a press release announcing a "Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service [5CA]", in which "the unauthorized party [...] gained access to a small number of government‑ID images (e.g., driver’s license, passport) from users who had appealed an age determination," as well as other personal data provided to support.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-03 |title=Update on a Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251006163040/https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |archive-date=2025-10-06 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord}}</ref> The number of ID images accessed was approximately 70,000, and the third-party in question was later named as 5CA.<ref name=":2" /> The hackers involved in the breach have revealed that the data was accessed via Zendesk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Troy |date=2025-10-04 |title=X |url=https://x.com/troyhunt/status/1974558088847102289}}</ref>

===Announcement of age verification coming in March (Feb. 2026)===
{{Main|Discord's Mandatory Age Verification}}
In February 2026, Discord issued a press release announcing "enhanced teen safety features rolling out globally", which begins with a "rollout to new and existing users in early March", that may require users "to engage in an age-verification process to change certain settings or access sensitive content".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-09 |title=Discord Launches Teen-by-Default Settings Globally |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260209142047/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |archive-date=2026-02-09 |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=Discord}}</ref>

On February 9, 2026, a [https://www.change.org/p/prevent-discord-from-implementing-id-verification Change.org petition] was created to prevent Discord from implementing the age verification globally.

===Discord's connections to Palantir===
Discord in the UK once utilized<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=2026-02-23 |title=Discord distances itself from Persona age verification after user backlash |url=https://www.theverge.com/tech/878369/discord-persona-age-verification |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224163803/https://www.theverge.com/tech/878369/discord-persona-age-verification |archive-date=2026-02-24 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Giono |first=Catherina |date=2026-02-24 |title=Discord distances itself from Peter Thiel–backed verification software after its code was found on a Google Cloud endpoint |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260226164710/https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/ |archive-date=2026-02-26 |website=Fortune}}</ref> [[Persona]] as a third-party, specialized vendor for age verification, requiring UK-based users to submit facial scans or ID to access restricted content. A since redacted statement on the support.discord.com web-page under the "How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord" article stated<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260212201755/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |archive-date=2026-02-12 |website=Discord}}</ref>:{{Quote|"Important: If you're located in the UK, you may be part of an experiment where your information will be processed by an age-assurance vendor, Persona. The Information you submit will be temporarily stored for up to 7 days, then deleted. For ID document verification, all details are blurred except your photo and date of birth, so only what's truly needed for age verification is used".}}
[[File:Discord Article Changes.png|alt=This image shows the Screenshorts of the changes support article on Discord's support page|thumb|Changes between the 15th of February compared to the 19th of February 2026]]
After significant backlash from the online community, Discord has changed their statement under the article (as of February 19th, 2026)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218072524/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |archive-date=2026-02-18 |website=Discord}}</ref>: {{Quote|"Note: Some users in regions outside the UK and Australia may see age-assurance prompts when accessing certain features or settings as part of ongoing experiments."}}

Discord does not further clarify what the "experiments" entail. Furthermore, the more detailed help-center article does not contain any mentions of the vendor Persona. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=What’s Changing for UK Users Due to the UK Online Safety Act |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959-What-s-Changing-for-UK-Users-Due-to-the-UK-Online-Safety-Act |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228040004/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959-What-s-Changing-for-UK-and-Australian-Users |archive-date=2026-02-28 |website=Discord}}</ref> 

Persona is an identity verification tool producer, that has received $200 million dollars<ref>{{Cite web |last=Song |first=Rick |date=2026-01-21 |title=Announcing Persona’s $200M Series D |url=https://withpersona.com/blog/series-d |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218172300/https://withpersona.com/blog/series-d |archive-date=2026-02-18 |website=*Persona}}</ref> from the Founders Fund<ref>{{Cite web |title=Persona |url=https://foundersfund.com/company/persona/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228040423/https://foundersfund.com/company/persona/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Founders' Fund - Portfolio |url=https://foundersfund.com/portfolio/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228034728/https://foundersfund.com/portfolio/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref>, a venture capital group headed by Peter Thiel<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peter Thiel |url=https://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528193728/http://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/ |archive-date=2016-05-28 |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref>. Peter Thiel is also the co-founder of Palantir Technologies Inc, a global surveillance company.<ref name=":3" />

===Inactive account deletions===
Discord has a [[Inactive account deletion|deletion policy on inactive accounts]], in which accounts that are not used for 2 years or more may be scheduled for deletion. Before the deletion of an inactive account, users may receive an email or text message warning that their account is scheduled for deletion. Such policies could adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as hospitalization, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries that have prolonged internet shutdowns. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Librarian |date=2023-06-14 |title=Inactive Account Deletion |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210025748/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion |archive-date=2026-02-10 |website=Discord}}</ref>

===SDK vulnerability with Arc Raiders integration (March 2026)===
In March 2026, Timothy Meadows, a computer engineer discovered a privacy and security vulnerability that involved Discord's [[wikipedia:Software_development_kit|software developer kit (SDK)]] and integrations with the [[wikipedia:Arc_Raiders|Arc Raiders]] game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meadows |first=Timothy |date=3 Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders - Discord SDK Data Exposure |url=https://timothymeadows.com/arc-raiders-discord-sdk-data-exposure/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/pktbu |archive-date=2026-03-06 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=timothymeadows.com}}</ref> This vulnerability affected the users with their Discord account linked with the game, allowing the software to log and store locally Discord private conversations, user credentials and other user information in an unencrypted log file. If the Arc Raiders game crashes, this file could be sent to the game developers. Embark Studios disabled the SDK integration after the incident was announced. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Klotz |first=Aaron |date=Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders was accidentally recording Discord conversations into an unencrypted local game file — vulnerability in SDK could log messages and credentials in plaintext |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/pc-gaming/arc-raiders-was-accidentally-recording-discord-conversations-into-an-unencrypted-local-game-file-vulnerability-in-sdk-could-log-messages-and-credentials-in-plaintext |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/kWBIf |archive-date=2026-03-07 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=Tom's Hardware}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Marnell |first=Blair |date=6 Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders Was Recording Private Discord DMs |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/arc-raiders-was-recording-private-discord-dms/1100-6538629/|url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/2ZQ1M |archive-date=2026-03-08 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=Gamespot}}</ref>
Before the incident was known, when an user linked their Discord account, a pop-up claimed that Arc Raiders "cannot read users' messages". {{Citation needed}}

===Discord's Protection of Sexual Predators and Pedophiles (March 2024 - Present)===
[[File:Discord's protection of pedophiles.png|thumb|First Offence is a 24-hour mute, with it as an active violation that stays on your profile for up to 4 years, when going after active pedophiles.]]
In March 2024, Discord sees pedophiles as a protected class; they don't even care about your children. Anyone who takes action against them will be hit with the [https://discord.com/safety/hateful-conduct-policy-explainer hateful conduct policy] First offence on Discord for going after pedophiles will be shown in the image on the right. <ref>{{Cite news |first=Lucas |date=April 12th , 2025 |title=Discord Banned a Roblox Bot that Protects Kids... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJD9MQLaQ-g |url-status=live |access-date=March 14th , 2026 |work=No Text To Speech}}</ref>

==Solution to delete an account without agreeing to the updated ToS==

*Visit [https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/212500837-How-to-Delete-your-Discord-Account How to delete Discord account] and scroll to "Having Trouble Deleting Your Discord Account?" Find the link titled "Reach out to our support team". Direct link subject to user instance - http://dis.gd/support

*Fill out the "Submit a request" form. (A web search for "Submit a request Discord" may help users find the form. Be sure to answer the question "What can we help you with?" with "Help and Support" from the drop-down.) '''Please fill out the form using the same email address associated with your Discord account, as this process may need to be restarted if it is not.''' In the form, under "Type of question," there is an option for "Account deletion request". Proceed to fill out and submit the form with any other relevant information. An email will then be sent with further instructions, including how to proceed with account deletion, which involves responding to the email with "I confirm that I would like to delete the account associated with [user email]." '''The response must be received from the same email as the one associated with the Discord account.'''

==Solution to disable forced updates on Linux==
If you're running a .deb installation of Discord, you can disable forced updates by adding "SKIP_HOST_UPDATE": true to ~/.config/discord/settings.json.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pardomuan |first=Patar Isac |date=2025-04-26 |title=How I Bypassed Discord’s Forced Update on Linux |url=https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Medium |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251004041109/https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |archive-date=4 Oct 2025}}</ref>[[File:Discord Vague Infringement example.png|thumb|An example of how Discord handles its moderation from a user's perspective.]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Discord]]
[[Category:Forced arbitration]]

Discord

2026-03-14T12:25:22Z

Obieden: /* Discord's Protection of Sexual Predators and Pedophiles (March 2024 - Present) */

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American technology company that runs a platform for messaging and calling targeted towards gamers.
|Founded=2015
|Industry=VoIP communications, instant messaging, videoconferences, content delivery, and social media
|Logo=Discord.svg
|ParentCompany=Discord Inc.
|Type=Private
|Website=https://discord.com
|CompanyAlias=Discord Inc.
}}
'''Discord''' is a proprietary VoIP and instant-messaging platform developed by Discord Inc. (formerly Hammer & Chisel, Inc.), co-founded by Jason Citron and Stanislav Vishnevskiy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Guadalupe |date=3 May 2018 |title=There Are 2.6 Billion Online Gamers in the World. This Startup Just May Connect Them All |url=https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503131556/https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |archive-date=3 May 2018 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Inc.}}</ref> Launched in 2015, the service has grown to over 150 million monthly active users as of 2025. While initially marketed towards PC gamers, Discord has expanded to multiple platforms, serving various communities and use cases, including education.<ref name="about-company">{{Cite web |date=15 Apr 2024 |title=About Discord <nowiki>|</nowiki> Our Mission and Values |url=https://discord.com/company/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250608013037/https://discord.com/company |archive-date=8 Jun 2025 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Discord}}</ref>

In April 2025, Humam Sakhnini (formerly King, Activision Blizzard) replaced Jason Citron as CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Discord Appoints Humam Sakhnini as Chief Executive Officer |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124072250/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

===Privacy<ref name="terms-of-service3">[https://discord.com/terms/ "Discord's Terms of Service"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216033955/https://discord.com/terms/ Archived])</ref>===
Mentioned within the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''':<ref name="privacy-policy3">[https://discord.com/privacy/ "Discord Privacy Policy"]. April 15, 2024. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034021/https://discord.com/privacy/ Archived]) ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025.</ref><ref name="community-guidelines2">[https://discord.com/guidelines/ "Discord Community Guidelines"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260216015550/https://discord.com/guidelines Archived])</ref>
*Collects a variety of user data, such as contact details; user generated messages and posts, including drafts; voice messages; payment information; server participation; device information, such as games being playing; log and event information related to use of Discord services as well as information from cookies and third party sources<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-29 |title=Privacy Policy: The information we collect |url=https://discord.com/privacy#3 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Discord |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128220720/https://discord.com/privacy |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref>
*Claims broad rights to user-generated content
*Stores deleted messages for undefined periods
*Retains personal information until deemed "no longer needed"
*Processes user content for "safety features and platform improvement"
*Shares data with related companies, vendors, and third-party service providers
*Opt-out behavioral tracking across platform features for personalization
*Maintains logs of IP addresses and device information for an undetermined amount of time, flags any user who has ever signed in with an EU IP address for inclusion within DSA transparency reports
*Sends a web request when any UI element is clicked and when typing
In 2019, Discord started requiring phone verification. The account will be locked until a phone number is added, regardless of account age or recent activity. The account will be automatically locked if the phone number is removed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=opal |date=2019-04-15 |title=guess I'm done with Discord |url=https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331090127/https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht |archive-date=2024-03-31 |website=wowana.me}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cadence |date=2020-06-06 |title=Why you shouldn't trust Discord |url=https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215170749/https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord |archive-date=2026-02-15 |website=cadence.moe}}</ref>

===Freedom===
In order to use Discord, users must agree to the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''', which includes agreeing to:<ref name="privacy-policy3" />
*Mandatory [[Forced arbitration|binding arbitration]] with [[class action|class-action]] waiver for U.S. users (From 19 October 2018)
*Granting a perpetual, transferable license to user content
*Broad terms of service, which allow for unilateral changes
*Termination of user accounts without prior notice at Discord's discretion
*No option to opt out of core data collection while using the service
*Discord possibly retaining content even after deletion by the user
Additionally, server owners have limited recourse if their servers are banned, and users are required to use Discord's payment processing for all monetary transactions.

===Transparency===
Discord's terms of service are lengthy and complex. In October 2025, the base terms are 29 pages long, with a reading level of 14th grade (equivalent to two years of tertiary education) and an estimated reading time of 42 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calculated using readabilitychecker.com based on current discord TOS. discord.com/terms |url=https://readabilitychecker.com/url |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210185029/https://readabilitychecker.com/url |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref> The 2021 version of Discord's ToS would take an estimated 275+ hours to read.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EULA of despair |url=https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |website=Penn State University Pilot Lab |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034102/https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Mentioned within the '''Discord Privacy Policy'''<ref name="privacy-policy3" /> and '''Community Guidelines''':<ref name="community-guidelines2" />
*Unclear processes for handling law enforcement requests
*Vague about data retention time frames
*Limited transparency regarding content moderation decisions<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=BBB - Discord, Inc. |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Better Business Bureau |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210184246/https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Trustpilot - Discord |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Trustpilot |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251112025215/https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref>
**Offending content not always displayed to the user, including metadata, filenames, timestamps, or the channel where it was posted
**No limits or restrictions on the age of content (e.g., users can be suspended due to something sent 1500 days ago)
*Lack of transparency in the server ban appeals process<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
*Limited disclosure of recommendation algorithm factors
*No clear disclosure of how the content is used for platform improvement
==Incidents==
===Introduction of forced arbitration (Oct. 2018)===
In October 2018, [[forced arbitration]] was added to the [[Terms of Service|terms of service]]. Users could opt out by sending an 'opt-out notice' to arbitration-opt-out@discord.com within 90 days of the ToS going in effect or registering their first account.'''<ref name="terms-of-service3" />'''

===Child safety concerns (June 2023)===
An [[wikipedia:NBC News|NBC News]] investigation in June 2023 uncovered widespread child safety issues on Discord, revealing systemic problems with the platform's user protection measures.

Investigators identified 35 separate cases where adults were criminally charged with "kidnapping, grooming, or sexual assault" involving contacts initiated through Discord. Additionally, 165 criminal prosecutions involving the sharing of child sexual exploitation material (CSAM) on the platform were documented.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFGoggin2023" class="citation web cs1">Goggin, Ben (21 Jun 2023). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 "Child predators are using Discord, a popular app among teens, for sextortion and abductions"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230621152318/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 Archived] from the original on 21 Jun 2023. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Child+predators+are+using+Discord%2C+a+popular+app+among+teens%2C+for+sextortion+and+abductions&rft.date=2023-06-21&rft.aulast=Goggin&rft.aufirst=Ben&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsocial-media%2Fdiscord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===FTC data collection investigation (Sept. 2024)===
In September 2024, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) released a comprehensive report examining Discord's data collection practices as part of a broader investigation into the data collection practices of social media platforms.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite class="citation web cs1">[https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf "A Look Behind the Screens: Examining the Data Practices of Social Media and Video Streaming Services"] (PDF). ''Federal Trade Commission''. 11 Sep 2024. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919133855/https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf Archived] (PDF) from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Federal+Trade+Commission&rft.atitle=A+Look+Behind+the+Screens%3A+Examining+the+Data+Practices+of+Social+Media+and+Video+Streaming+Services&rft.date=2024-09-11&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ftc.gov%2Fsystem%2Ffiles%2Fftc_gov%2Fpdf%2FSocial-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

The investigation revealed Discord collects extensive user data, including:
*Message content and metadata
*Voice-chat participation
*Server membership and activity
*Device and location information
Particular concern was raised about:
*[https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-312 Collection of data from users under 13]
*Handling of minors' user information
*Inadequate age-verification systems
The FTC identified multiple areas where Discord's practices put users at risk:
*Identity theft exposure
*Potential stalking risks
*Discrimination concerns
*Mental health and emotional impact

The FTC concluded that Discord's data practices posed unacceptable risks to users, particularly minors, and recommended significant reforms to the platform's privacy protection measures.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFTolentino2024" class="citation web cs1">Tolentino, Daysia (19 Sep 2024). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 "Social media companies engaged in 'vast surveillance,' FTC finds, calling status quo 'unacceptable'"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919171049/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 Archived] from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Social+media+companies+engaged+in+%27vast+surveillance%2C%27+FTC+finds%2C+calling+status+quo+%27unacceptable%27&rft.date=2024-09-19&rft.aulast=Tolentino&rft.aufirst=Daysia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsecurity%2Fsocial-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===Reinforcement of forced arbitration (Sept. 2025)===
Announced August 29th, 2025, and put into effect September 29th, 2025, Discord updated and re-iterated their [[forced arbitration]] clause but gave users another option to opt-out of forced arbitration until October 29th, 2025, for existing accounts, or 30 days after initial agreement for new accounts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-29 |title=Discord's Terms of Service |url=https://discord.com/terms#16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007023150/https://discord.com/terms#16 |archive-date=2025-10-07 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord.com}}</ref> Users are automatically opted into the forced arbitration clause unless they take specific action to opt out of it within 30 days. Instead, if users chose to delete their accounts, the platform required them to accept the terms in order to access their account, from which they could then delete it, making acceptance of the new terms mandatory.
[[File:Discord Forced Arbitration 1.png|alt=An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application.|thumb|(2025-09-29) An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application. The terms of service at the time of this screenshot includes forced arbitration and disallows users from filing a class-action lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Discord |date=2025-09-29 |title=Terms of Service {{!}} Discord |url=https://discord.com/terms |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=Discord}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260222174800/https://discord.com/terms Archived])</ref>]]

===Third-Party customer service data breach (Oct. 2025)===
{{Main|Discord / 5CA Data Breach}}
In October 2025, Discord issued a press release announcing a "Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service [5CA]", in which "the unauthorized party [...] gained access to a small number of government‑ID images (e.g., driver’s license, passport) from users who had appealed an age determination," as well as other personal data provided to support.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-03 |title=Update on a Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251006163040/https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |archive-date=2025-10-06 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord}}</ref> The number of ID images accessed was approximately 70,000, and the third-party in question was later named as 5CA.<ref name=":2" /> The hackers involved in the breach have revealed that the data was accessed via Zendesk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Troy |date=2025-10-04 |title=X |url=https://x.com/troyhunt/status/1974558088847102289}}</ref>

===Announcement of age verification coming in March (Feb. 2026)===
{{Main|Discord's Mandatory Age Verification}}
In February 2026, Discord issued a press release announcing "enhanced teen safety features rolling out globally", which begins with a "rollout to new and existing users in early March", that may require users "to engage in an age-verification process to change certain settings or access sensitive content".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-09 |title=Discord Launches Teen-by-Default Settings Globally |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260209142047/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |archive-date=2026-02-09 |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=Discord}}</ref>

On February 9, 2026, a [https://www.change.org/p/prevent-discord-from-implementing-id-verification Change.org petition] was created to prevent Discord from implementing the age verification globally.

===Discord's connections to Palantir===
Discord in the UK once utilized<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=2026-02-23 |title=Discord distances itself from Persona age verification after user backlash |url=https://www.theverge.com/tech/878369/discord-persona-age-verification |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224163803/https://www.theverge.com/tech/878369/discord-persona-age-verification |archive-date=2026-02-24 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Giono |first=Catherina |date=2026-02-24 |title=Discord distances itself from Peter Thiel–backed verification software after its code was found on a Google Cloud endpoint |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260226164710/https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/ |archive-date=2026-02-26 |website=Fortune}}</ref> [[Persona]] as a third-party, specialized vendor for age verification, requiring UK-based users to submit facial scans or ID to access restricted content. A since redacted statement on the support.discord.com web-page under the "How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord" article stated<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260212201755/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |archive-date=2026-02-12 |website=Discord}}</ref>:{{Quote|"Important: If you're located in the UK, you may be part of an experiment where your information will be processed by an age-assurance vendor, Persona. The Information you submit will be temporarily stored for up to 7 days, then deleted. For ID document verification, all details are blurred except your photo and date of birth, so only what's truly needed for age verification is used".}}
[[File:Discord Article Changes.png|alt=This image shows the Screenshorts of the changes support article on Discord's support page|thumb|Changes between the 15th of February compared to the 19th of February 2026]]
After significant backlash from the online community, Discord has changed their statement under the article (as of February 19th, 2026)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218072524/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |archive-date=2026-02-18 |website=Discord}}</ref>: {{Quote|"Note: Some users in regions outside the UK and Australia may see age-assurance prompts when accessing certain features or settings as part of ongoing experiments."}}

Discord does not further clarify what the "experiments" entail. Furthermore, the more detailed help-center article does not contain any mentions of the vendor Persona. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=What’s Changing for UK Users Due to the UK Online Safety Act |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959-What-s-Changing-for-UK-Users-Due-to-the-UK-Online-Safety-Act |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228040004/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959-What-s-Changing-for-UK-and-Australian-Users |archive-date=2026-02-28 |website=Discord}}</ref> 

Persona is an identity verification tool producer, that has received $200 million dollars<ref>{{Cite web |last=Song |first=Rick |date=2026-01-21 |title=Announcing Persona’s $200M Series D |url=https://withpersona.com/blog/series-d |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218172300/https://withpersona.com/blog/series-d |archive-date=2026-02-18 |website=*Persona}}</ref> from the Founders Fund<ref>{{Cite web |title=Persona |url=https://foundersfund.com/company/persona/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228040423/https://foundersfund.com/company/persona/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Founders' Fund - Portfolio |url=https://foundersfund.com/portfolio/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228034728/https://foundersfund.com/portfolio/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref>, a venture capital group headed by Peter Thiel<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peter Thiel |url=https://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528193728/http://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/ |archive-date=2016-05-28 |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref>. Peter Thiel is also the co-founder of Palantir Technologies Inc, a global surveillance company.<ref name=":3" />

===Inactive account deletions===
Discord has a [[Inactive account deletion|deletion policy on inactive accounts]], in which accounts that are not used for 2 years or more may be scheduled for deletion. Before the deletion of an inactive account, users may receive an email or text message warning that their account is scheduled for deletion. Such policies could adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as hospitalization, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries that have prolonged internet shutdowns. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Librarian |date=2023-06-14 |title=Inactive Account Deletion |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210025748/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion |archive-date=2026-02-10 |website=Discord}}</ref>

===SDK vulnerability with Arc Raiders integration (March 2026)===
In March 2026, Timothy Meadows, a computer engineer discovered a privacy and security vulnerability that involved Discord's [[wikipedia:Software_development_kit|software developer kit (SDK)]] and integrations with the [[wikipedia:Arc_Raiders|Arc Raiders]] game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meadows |first=Timothy |date=3 Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders - Discord SDK Data Exposure |url=https://timothymeadows.com/arc-raiders-discord-sdk-data-exposure/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/pktbu |archive-date=2026-03-06 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=timothymeadows.com}}</ref> This vulnerability affected the users with their Discord account linked with the game, allowing the software to log and store locally Discord private conversations, user credentials and other user information in an unencrypted log file. If the Arc Raiders game crashes, this file could be sent to the game developers. Embark Studios disabled the SDK integration after the incident was announced. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Klotz |first=Aaron |date=Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders was accidentally recording Discord conversations into an unencrypted local game file — vulnerability in SDK could log messages and credentials in plaintext |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/pc-gaming/arc-raiders-was-accidentally-recording-discord-conversations-into-an-unencrypted-local-game-file-vulnerability-in-sdk-could-log-messages-and-credentials-in-plaintext |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/kWBIf |archive-date=2026-03-07 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=Tom's Hardware}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Marnell |first=Blair |date=6 Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders Was Recording Private Discord DMs |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/arc-raiders-was-recording-private-discord-dms/1100-6538629/|url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/2ZQ1M |archive-date=2026-03-08 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=Gamespot}}</ref>
Before the incident was known, when an user linked their Discord account, a pop-up claimed that Arc Raiders "cannot read users' messages". {{Citation needed}}

===Discord's Protection of Sexual Predators and Pedophiles (March 2024 - Present)===
[[File:Discord's protection of pedophiles.png|thumb|First Offence is 24hr mute , with it as a active violation that stays on your profile for up to 4 years , when going after active pedophiles.]]
In March 2024, Discord sees pedophiles as a protected class; they don't even care about your children. Anyone who takes action against them will be hit with the [https://discord.com/safety/hateful-conduct-policy-explainer hateful conduct policy] First offence on Discord for going after pedophiles will be shown in the image on the right. <ref>{{Cite news |first=Lucas |date=April 12th , 2025 |title=Discord Banned a Roblox Bot that Protects Kids... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJD9MQLaQ-g |url-status=live |access-date=March 14th , 2026 |work=No Text To Speech}}</ref>

==Solution to delete an account without agreeing to the updated ToS==

*Visit [https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/212500837-How-to-Delete-your-Discord-Account How to delete Discord account] and scroll to "Having Trouble Deleting Your Discord Account?" Find the link titled "Reach out to our support team". Direct link subject to user instance - http://dis.gd/support

*Fill out the "Submit a request" form. (A web search for "Submit a request Discord" may help users find the form. Be sure to answer the question "What can we help you with?" with "Help and Support" from the drop-down.) '''Please fill out the form using the same email address associated with your Discord account, as this process may need to be restarted if it is not.''' In the form, under "Type of question," there is an option for "Account deletion request". Proceed to fill out and submit the form with any other relevant information. An email will then be sent with further instructions, including how to proceed with account deletion, which involves responding to the email with "I confirm that I would like to delete the account associated with [user email]." '''The response must be received from the same email as the one associated with the Discord account.'''

==Solution to disable forced updates on Linux==
If you're running a .deb installation of Discord, you can disable forced updates by adding "SKIP_HOST_UPDATE": true to ~/.config/discord/settings.json.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pardomuan |first=Patar Isac |date=2025-04-26 |title=How I Bypassed Discord’s Forced Update on Linux |url=https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Medium |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251004041109/https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |archive-date=4 Oct 2025}}</ref>[[File:Discord Vague Infringement example.png|thumb|An example of how Discord handles its moderation from a user's perspective.]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Discord]]
[[Category:Forced arbitration]]

Discord

2026-03-14T07:36:46Z

Obieden: /* Discord's Protection of Sexual Predators and Pedophiles (March 2024 - Present) */

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American technology company that runs a platform for messaging and calling targeted towards gamers.
|Founded=2015
|Industry=VoIP communications, instant messaging, videoconferences, content delivery, and social media
|Logo=Discord.svg
|ParentCompany=Discord Inc.
|Type=Private
|Website=https://discord.com
|CompanyAlias=Discord Inc.
}}
'''Discord''' is a proprietary VoIP and instant-messaging platform developed by Discord Inc. (formerly Hammer & Chisel, Inc.), co-founded by Jason Citron and Stanislav Vishnevskiy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Guadalupe |date=3 May 2018 |title=There Are 2.6 Billion Online Gamers in the World. This Startup Just May Connect Them All |url=https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503131556/https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |archive-date=3 May 2018 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Inc.}}</ref> Launched in 2015, the service has grown to over 150 million monthly active users as of 2025. While initially marketed towards PC gamers, Discord has expanded to multiple platforms, serving various communities and use cases, including education.<ref name="about-company">{{Cite web |date=15 Apr 2024 |title=About Discord <nowiki>|</nowiki> Our Mission and Values |url=https://discord.com/company/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250608013037/https://discord.com/company |archive-date=8 Jun 2025 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Discord}}</ref>

In April 2025, Humam Sakhnini (formerly King, Activision Blizzard) replaced Jason Citron as CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Discord Appoints Humam Sakhnini as Chief Executive Officer |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124072250/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

===Privacy<ref name="terms-of-service3">[https://discord.com/terms/ "Discord's Terms of Service"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216033955/https://discord.com/terms/ Archived])</ref>===
Mentioned within the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''':<ref name="privacy-policy3">[https://discord.com/privacy/ "Discord Privacy Policy"]. April 15, 2024. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034021/https://discord.com/privacy/ Archived]) ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025.</ref><ref name="community-guidelines2">[https://discord.com/guidelines/ "Discord Community Guidelines"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260216015550/https://discord.com/guidelines Archived])</ref>
*Collects a variety of user data, such as contact details; user generated messages and posts, including drafts; voice messages; payment information; server participation; device information, such as games being playing; log and event information related to use of Discord services as well as information from cookies and third party sources<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-29 |title=Privacy Policy: The information we collect |url=https://discord.com/privacy#3 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Discord |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128220720/https://discord.com/privacy |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref>
*Claims broad rights to user-generated content
*Stores deleted messages for undefined periods
*Retains personal information until deemed "no longer needed"
*Processes user content for "safety features and platform improvement"
*Shares data with related companies, vendors, and third-party service providers
*Opt-out behavioral tracking across platform features for personalization
*Maintains logs of IP addresses and device information for an undetermined amount of time, flags any user who has ever signed in with an EU IP address for inclusion within DSA transparency reports
*Sends a web request when any UI element is clicked and when typing
In 2019, Discord started requiring phone verification. The account will be locked until a phone number is added, regardless of account age or recent activity. The account will be automatically locked if the phone number is removed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=opal |date=2019-04-15 |title=guess I'm done with Discord |url=https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331090127/https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht |archive-date=2024-03-31 |website=wowana.me}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cadence |date=2020-06-06 |title=Why you shouldn't trust Discord |url=https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215170749/https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord |archive-date=2026-02-15 |website=cadence.moe}}</ref>

===Freedom===
In order to use Discord, users must agree to the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''', which includes agreeing to:<ref name="privacy-policy3" />
*Mandatory [[Forced arbitration|binding arbitration]] with [[class action|class-action]] waiver for U.S. users (From 19 October 2018)
*Granting a perpetual, transferable license to user content
*Broad terms of service, which allow for unilateral changes
*Termination of user accounts without prior notice at Discord's discretion
*No option to opt out of core data collection while using the service
*Discord possibly retaining content even after deletion by the user
Additionally, server owners have limited recourse if their servers are banned, and users are required to use Discord's payment processing for all monetary transactions.

===Transparency===
Discord's terms of service are lengthy and complex. In October 2025, the base terms are 29 pages long, with a reading level of 14th grade (equivalent to two years of tertiary education) and an estimated reading time of 42 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calculated using readabilitychecker.com based on current discord TOS. discord.com/terms |url=https://readabilitychecker.com/url |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210185029/https://readabilitychecker.com/url |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref> The 2021 version of Discord's ToS would take an estimated 275+ hours to read.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EULA of despair |url=https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |website=Penn State University Pilot Lab |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034102/https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Mentioned within the '''Discord Privacy Policy'''<ref name="privacy-policy3" /> and '''Community Guidelines''':<ref name="community-guidelines2" />
*Unclear processes for handling law enforcement requests
*Vague about data retention time frames
*Limited transparency regarding content moderation decisions<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=BBB - Discord, Inc. |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Better Business Bureau |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210184246/https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Trustpilot - Discord |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Trustpilot |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251112025215/https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref>
**Offending content not always displayed to the user, including metadata, filenames, timestamps, or the channel where it was posted
**No limits or restrictions on the age of content (e.g., users can be suspended due to something sent 1500 days ago)
*Lack of transparency in the server ban appeals process<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
*Limited disclosure of recommendation algorithm factors
*No clear disclosure of how the content is used for platform improvement
==Incidents==
===Introduction of forced arbitration (Oct. 2018)===
In October 2018, [[forced arbitration]] was added to the [[Terms of Service|terms of service]]. Users could opt out by sending an 'opt-out notice' to arbitration-opt-out@discord.com within 90 days of the ToS going in effect or registering their first account.'''<ref name="terms-of-service3" />'''

===Child safety concerns (June 2023)===
An [[wikipedia:NBC News|NBC News]] investigation in June 2023 uncovered widespread child safety issues on Discord, revealing systemic problems with the platform's user protection measures.

Investigators identified 35 separate cases where adults were criminally charged with "kidnapping, grooming, or sexual assault" involving contacts initiated through Discord. Additionally, 165 criminal prosecutions involving the sharing of child sexual exploitation material (CSAM) on the platform were documented.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFGoggin2023" class="citation web cs1">Goggin, Ben (21 Jun 2023). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 "Child predators are using Discord, a popular app among teens, for sextortion and abductions"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230621152318/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 Archived] from the original on 21 Jun 2023. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Child+predators+are+using+Discord%2C+a+popular+app+among+teens%2C+for+sextortion+and+abductions&rft.date=2023-06-21&rft.aulast=Goggin&rft.aufirst=Ben&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsocial-media%2Fdiscord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===FTC data collection investigation (Sept. 2024)===
In September 2024, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) released a comprehensive report examining Discord's data collection practices as part of a broader investigation into the data collection practices of social media platforms.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite class="citation web cs1">[https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf "A Look Behind the Screens: Examining the Data Practices of Social Media and Video Streaming Services"] (PDF). ''Federal Trade Commission''. 11 Sep 2024. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919133855/https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf Archived] (PDF) from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Federal+Trade+Commission&rft.atitle=A+Look+Behind+the+Screens%3A+Examining+the+Data+Practices+of+Social+Media+and+Video+Streaming+Services&rft.date=2024-09-11&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ftc.gov%2Fsystem%2Ffiles%2Fftc_gov%2Fpdf%2FSocial-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

The investigation revealed Discord collects extensive user data, including:
*Message content and metadata
*Voice-chat participation
*Server membership and activity
*Device and location information
Particular concern was raised about:
*[https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-312 Collection of data from users under 13]
*Handling of minors' user information
*Inadequate age-verification systems
The FTC identified multiple areas where Discord's practices put users at risk:
*Identity theft exposure
*Potential stalking risks
*Discrimination concerns
*Mental health and emotional impact

The FTC concluded that Discord's data practices posed unacceptable risks to users, particularly minors, and recommended significant reforms to the platform's privacy protection measures.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFTolentino2024" class="citation web cs1">Tolentino, Daysia (19 Sep 2024). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 "Social media companies engaged in 'vast surveillance,' FTC finds, calling status quo 'unacceptable'"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919171049/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 Archived] from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Social+media+companies+engaged+in+%27vast+surveillance%2C%27+FTC+finds%2C+calling+status+quo+%27unacceptable%27&rft.date=2024-09-19&rft.aulast=Tolentino&rft.aufirst=Daysia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsecurity%2Fsocial-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===Reinforcement of forced arbitration (Sept. 2025)===
Announced August 29th, 2025, and put into effect September 29th, 2025, Discord updated and re-iterated their [[forced arbitration]] clause but gave users another option to opt-out of forced arbitration until October 29th, 2025, for existing accounts, or 30 days after initial agreement for new accounts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-29 |title=Discord's Terms of Service |url=https://discord.com/terms#16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007023150/https://discord.com/terms#16 |archive-date=2025-10-07 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord.com}}</ref> Users are automatically opted into the forced arbitration clause unless they take specific action to opt out of it within 30 days. Instead, if users chose to delete their accounts, the platform required them to accept the terms in order to access their account, from which they could then delete it, making acceptance of the new terms mandatory.
[[File:Discord Forced Arbitration 1.png|alt=An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application.|thumb|(2025-09-29) An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application. The terms of service at the time of this screenshot includes forced arbitration and disallows users from filing a class-action lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Discord |date=2025-09-29 |title=Terms of Service {{!}} Discord |url=https://discord.com/terms |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=Discord}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260222174800/https://discord.com/terms Archived])</ref>]]

===Third-Party customer service data breach (Oct. 2025)===
{{Main|Discord / 5CA Data Breach}}
In October 2025, Discord issued a press release announcing a "Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service [5CA]", in which "the unauthorized party [...] gained access to a small number of government‑ID images (e.g., driver’s license, passport) from users who had appealed an age determination," as well as other personal data provided to support.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-03 |title=Update on a Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251006163040/https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |archive-date=2025-10-06 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord}}</ref> The number of ID images accessed was approximately 70,000, and the third-party in question was later named as 5CA.<ref name=":2" /> The hackers involved in the breach have revealed that the data was accessed via Zendesk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Troy |date=2025-10-04 |title=X |url=https://x.com/troyhunt/status/1974558088847102289}}</ref>

===Announcement of age verification coming in March (Feb. 2026)===
{{Main|Discord's Mandatory Age Verification}}
In February 2026, Discord issued a press release announcing "enhanced teen safety features rolling out globally", which begins with a "rollout to new and existing users in early March", that may require users "to engage in an age-verification process to change certain settings or access sensitive content".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-09 |title=Discord Launches Teen-by-Default Settings Globally |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260209142047/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |archive-date=2026-02-09 |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=Discord}}</ref>

On February 9, 2026, a [https://www.change.org/p/prevent-discord-from-implementing-id-verification Change.org petition] was created to prevent Discord from implementing the age verification globally.

===Discord's connections to Palantir===
Discord in the UK once utilized<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=2026-02-23 |title=Discord distances itself from Persona age verification after user backlash |url=https://www.theverge.com/tech/878369/discord-persona-age-verification |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224163803/https://www.theverge.com/tech/878369/discord-persona-age-verification |archive-date=2026-02-24 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Giono |first=Catherina |date=2026-02-24 |title=Discord distances itself from Peter Thiel–backed verification software after its code was found on a Google Cloud endpoint |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260226164710/https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/ |archive-date=2026-02-26 |website=Fortune}}</ref> [[Persona]] as a third-party, specialized vendor for age verification, requiring UK-based users to submit facial scans or ID to access restricted content. A since redacted statement on the support.discord.com web-page under the "How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord" article stated<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260212201755/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |archive-date=2026-02-12 |website=Discord}}</ref>:{{Quote|"Important: If you're located in the UK, you may be part of an experiment where your information will be processed by an age-assurance vendor, Persona. The Information you submit will be temporarily stored for up to 7 days, then deleted. For ID document verification, all details are blurred except your photo and date of birth, so only what's truly needed for age verification is used".}}
[[File:Discord Article Changes.png|alt=This image shows the Screenshorts of the changes support article on Discord's support page|thumb|Changes between the 15th of February compared to the 19th of February 2026]]
After significant backlash from the online community, Discord has changed their statement under the article (as of February 19th, 2026)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218072524/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |archive-date=2026-02-18 |website=Discord}}</ref>: {{Quote|"Note: Some users in regions outside the UK and Australia may see age-assurance prompts when accessing certain features or settings as part of ongoing experiments."}}

Discord does not further clarify what the "experiments" entail. Furthermore, the more detailed help-center article does not contain any mentions of the vendor Persona. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=What’s Changing for UK Users Due to the UK Online Safety Act |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959-What-s-Changing-for-UK-Users-Due-to-the-UK-Online-Safety-Act |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228040004/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959-What-s-Changing-for-UK-and-Australian-Users |archive-date=2026-02-28 |website=Discord}}</ref> 

Persona is an identity verification tool producer, that has received $200 million dollars<ref>{{Cite web |last=Song |first=Rick |date=2026-01-21 |title=Announcing Persona’s $200M Series D |url=https://withpersona.com/blog/series-d |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218172300/https://withpersona.com/blog/series-d |archive-date=2026-02-18 |website=*Persona}}</ref> from the Founders Fund<ref>{{Cite web |title=Persona |url=https://foundersfund.com/company/persona/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228040423/https://foundersfund.com/company/persona/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Founders' Fund - Portfolio |url=https://foundersfund.com/portfolio/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228034728/https://foundersfund.com/portfolio/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref>, a venture capital group headed by Peter Thiel<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peter Thiel |url=https://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528193728/http://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/ |archive-date=2016-05-28 |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref>. Peter Thiel is also the co-founder of Palantir Technologies Inc, a global surveillance company.<ref name=":3" />

===Inactive account deletions===
Discord has a [[Inactive account deletion|deletion policy on inactive accounts]], in which accounts that are not used for 2 years or more may be scheduled for deletion. Before the deletion of an inactive account, users may receive an email or text message warning that their account is scheduled for deletion. Such policies could adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as hospitalization, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries that have prolonged internet shutdowns. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Librarian |date=2023-06-14 |title=Inactive Account Deletion |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210025748/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion |archive-date=2026-02-10 |website=Discord}}</ref>

===SDK vulnerability with Arc Raiders integration (March 2026)===
In March 2026, Timothy Meadows, a computer engineer discovered a privacy and security vulnerability that involved Discord's [[wikipedia:Software_development_kit|software developer kit (SDK)]] and integrations with the [[wikipedia:Arc_Raiders|Arc Raiders]] game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meadows |first=Timothy |date=3 Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders - Discord SDK Data Exposure |url=https://timothymeadows.com/arc-raiders-discord-sdk-data-exposure/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/pktbu |archive-date=2026-03-06 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=timothymeadows.com}}</ref> This vulnerability affected the users with their Discord account linked with the game, allowing the software to log and store locally Discord private conversations, user credentials and other user information in an unencrypted log file. If the Arc Raiders game crashes, this file could be sent to the game developers. Embark Studios disabled the SDK integration after the incident was announced. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Klotz |first=Aaron |date=Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders was accidentally recording Discord conversations into an unencrypted local game file — vulnerability in SDK could log messages and credentials in plaintext |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/pc-gaming/arc-raiders-was-accidentally-recording-discord-conversations-into-an-unencrypted-local-game-file-vulnerability-in-sdk-could-log-messages-and-credentials-in-plaintext |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/kWBIf |archive-date=2026-03-07 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=Tom's Hardware}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Marnell |first=Blair |date=6 Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders Was Recording Private Discord DMs |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/arc-raiders-was-recording-private-discord-dms/1100-6538629/|url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/2ZQ1M |archive-date=2026-03-08 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=Gamespot}}</ref>
Before the incident was known, when an user linked their Discord account, a pop-up claimed that Arc Raiders "cannot read users' messages". {{Citation needed}}

===Discord's Protection of Sexual Predators and Pedophiles (March 2024 - Present)===
[[File:Discord's protection of pedophiles.png|thumb|First Offence is 24hr mute , with it as a active violation that stays on your profile for 4 years , when going after active pedophiles.]]
In March 2024, Discord sees pedophiles as a protected class; they don't even care about your children. Anyone who takes action against them will be hit with the [https://discord.com/safety/hateful-conduct-policy-explainer hateful conduct policy] First offence on Discord for going after pedophiles will be shown in the image on the right. <ref>{{Cite news |first=Lucas |date=April 12th , 2025 |title=Discord Banned a Roblox Bot that Protects Kids... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJD9MQLaQ-g |url-status=live |access-date=March 14th , 2026 |work=No Text To Speech}}</ref>

==Solution to delete an account without agreeing to the updated ToS==

*Visit [https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/212500837-How-to-Delete-your-Discord-Account How to delete Discord account] and scroll to "Having Trouble Deleting Your Discord Account?" Find the link titled "Reach out to our support team". Direct link subject to user instance - http://dis.gd/support

*Fill out the "Submit a request" form. (A web search for "Submit a request Discord" may help users find the form. Be sure to answer the question "What can we help you with?" with "Help and Support" from the drop-down.) '''Please fill out the form using the same email address associated with your Discord account, as this process may need to be restarted if it is not.''' In the form, under "Type of question," there is an option for "Account deletion request". Proceed to fill out and submit the form with any other relevant information. An email will then be sent with further instructions, including how to proceed with account deletion, which involves responding to the email with "I confirm that I would like to delete the account associated with [user email]." '''The response must be received from the same email as the one associated with the Discord account.'''

==Solution to disable forced updates on Linux==
If you're running a .deb installation of Discord, you can disable forced updates by adding "SKIP_HOST_UPDATE": true to ~/.config/discord/settings.json.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pardomuan |first=Patar Isac |date=2025-04-26 |title=How I Bypassed Discord’s Forced Update on Linux |url=https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Medium |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251004041109/https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |archive-date=4 Oct 2025}}</ref>[[File:Discord Vague Infringement example.png|thumb|An example of how Discord handles its moderation from a user's perspective.]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Discord]]
[[Category:Forced arbitration]]

Discord

2026-03-14T07:11:24Z

Obieden: /* Discord's Protection of Sexual Predators and Pedophiles (March 2024 - Present) */

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American technology company that runs a platform for messaging and calling targeted towards gamers.
|Founded=2015
|Industry=VoIP communications, instant messaging, videoconferences, content delivery, and social media
|Logo=Discord.svg
|ParentCompany=Discord Inc.
|Type=Private
|Website=https://discord.com
|CompanyAlias=Discord Inc.
}}
'''Discord''' is a proprietary VoIP and instant-messaging platform developed by Discord Inc. (formerly Hammer & Chisel, Inc.), co-founded by Jason Citron and Stanislav Vishnevskiy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Guadalupe |date=3 May 2018 |title=There Are 2.6 Billion Online Gamers in the World. This Startup Just May Connect Them All |url=https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503131556/https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html |archive-date=3 May 2018 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Inc.}}</ref> Launched in 2015, the service has grown to over 150 million monthly active users as of 2025. While initially marketed towards PC gamers, Discord has expanded to multiple platforms, serving various communities and use cases, including education.<ref name="about-company">{{Cite web |date=15 Apr 2024 |title=About Discord <nowiki>|</nowiki> Our Mission and Values |url=https://discord.com/company/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250608013037/https://discord.com/company |archive-date=8 Jun 2025 |access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=Discord}}</ref>

In April 2025, Humam Sakhnini (formerly King, Activision Blizzard) replaced Jason Citron as CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Discord Appoints Humam Sakhnini as Chief Executive Officer |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124072250/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-appoints-new-ceo-humam-sakhnini |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==

===Privacy<ref name="terms-of-service3">[https://discord.com/terms/ "Discord's Terms of Service"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216033955/https://discord.com/terms/ Archived])</ref>===
Mentioned within the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''':<ref name="privacy-policy3">[https://discord.com/privacy/ "Discord Privacy Policy"]. April 15, 2024. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034021/https://discord.com/privacy/ Archived]) ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025.</ref><ref name="community-guidelines2">[https://discord.com/guidelines/ "Discord Community Guidelines"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025. ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260216015550/https://discord.com/guidelines Archived])</ref>
*Collects a variety of user data, such as contact details; user generated messages and posts, including drafts; voice messages; payment information; server participation; device information, such as games being playing; log and event information related to use of Discord services as well as information from cookies and third party sources<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-29 |title=Privacy Policy: The information we collect |url=https://discord.com/privacy#3 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Discord |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128220720/https://discord.com/privacy |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref>
*Claims broad rights to user-generated content
*Stores deleted messages for undefined periods
*Retains personal information until deemed "no longer needed"
*Processes user content for "safety features and platform improvement"
*Shares data with related companies, vendors, and third-party service providers
*Opt-out behavioral tracking across platform features for personalization
*Maintains logs of IP addresses and device information for an undetermined amount of time, flags any user who has ever signed in with an EU IP address for inclusion within DSA transparency reports
*Sends a web request when any UI element is clicked and when typing
In 2019, Discord started requiring phone verification. The account will be locked until a phone number is added, regardless of account age or recent activity. The account will be automatically locked if the phone number is removed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=opal |date=2019-04-15 |title=guess I'm done with Discord |url=https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331090127/https://wowana.me/blog/guess-im-done-with-discord.xht |archive-date=2024-03-31 |website=wowana.me}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cadence |date=2020-06-06 |title=Why you shouldn't trust Discord |url=https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215170749/https://cadence.moe/blog/2020-06-06-why-you-shouldnt-trust-discord |archive-date=2026-02-15 |website=cadence.moe}}</ref>

===Freedom===
In order to use Discord, users must agree to the '''Discord ToS<ref name="terms-of-service3" />''' and '''Privacy Policy''', which includes agreeing to:<ref name="privacy-policy3" />
*Mandatory [[Forced arbitration|binding arbitration]] with [[class action|class-action]] waiver for U.S. users (From 19 October 2018)
*Granting a perpetual, transferable license to user content
*Broad terms of service, which allow for unilateral changes
*Termination of user accounts without prior notice at Discord's discretion
*No option to opt out of core data collection while using the service
*Discord possibly retaining content even after deletion by the user
Additionally, server owners have limited recourse if their servers are banned, and users are required to use Discord's payment processing for all monetary transactions.

===Transparency===
Discord's terms of service are lengthy and complex. In October 2025, the base terms are 29 pages long, with a reading level of 14th grade (equivalent to two years of tertiary education) and an estimated reading time of 42 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calculated using readabilitychecker.com based on current discord TOS. discord.com/terms |url=https://readabilitychecker.com/url |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210185029/https://readabilitychecker.com/url |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref> The 2021 version of Discord's ToS would take an estimated 275+ hours to read.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EULA of despair |url=https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |access-date=9 Oct 2025 |website=Penn State University Pilot Lab |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216034102/https://www.pilotlab.org/eulas-of-despair |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Mentioned within the '''Discord Privacy Policy'''<ref name="privacy-policy3" /> and '''Community Guidelines''':<ref name="community-guidelines2" />
*Unclear processes for handling law enforcement requests
*Vague about data retention time frames
*Limited transparency regarding content moderation decisions<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=BBB - Discord, Inc. |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Better Business Bureau |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210184246/https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/computer-software/discord-inc-1116-918699 |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Trustpilot - Discord |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |access-date=Aug 2, 2025 |website=Trustpilot |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251112025215/https://www.trustpilot.com/review/discord.com |archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref>
**Offending content not always displayed to the user, including metadata, filenames, timestamps, or the channel where it was posted
**No limits or restrictions on the age of content (e.g., users can be suspended due to something sent 1500 days ago)
*Lack of transparency in the server ban appeals process<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
*Limited disclosure of recommendation algorithm factors
*No clear disclosure of how the content is used for platform improvement
==Incidents==
===Introduction of forced arbitration (Oct. 2018)===
In October 2018, [[forced arbitration]] was added to the [[Terms of Service|terms of service]]. Users could opt out by sending an 'opt-out notice' to arbitration-opt-out@discord.com within 90 days of the ToS going in effect or registering their first account.'''<ref name="terms-of-service3" />'''

===Child safety concerns (June 2023)===
An [[wikipedia:NBC News|NBC News]] investigation in June 2023 uncovered widespread child safety issues on Discord, revealing systemic problems with the platform's user protection measures.

Investigators identified 35 separate cases where adults were criminally charged with "kidnapping, grooming, or sexual assault" involving contacts initiated through Discord. Additionally, 165 criminal prosecutions involving the sharing of child sexual exploitation material (CSAM) on the platform were documented.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFGoggin2023" class="citation web cs1">Goggin, Ben (21 Jun 2023). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 "Child predators are using Discord, a popular app among teens, for sextortion and abductions"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230621152318/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 Archived] from the original on 21 Jun 2023. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Child+predators+are+using+Discord%2C+a+popular+app+among+teens%2C+for+sextortion+and+abductions&rft.date=2023-06-21&rft.aulast=Goggin&rft.aufirst=Ben&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsocial-media%2Fdiscord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===FTC data collection investigation (Sept. 2024)===
In September 2024, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) released a comprehensive report examining Discord's data collection practices as part of a broader investigation into the data collection practices of social media platforms.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite class="citation web cs1">[https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf "A Look Behind the Screens: Examining the Data Practices of Social Media and Video Streaming Services"] (PDF). ''Federal Trade Commission''. 11 Sep 2024. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919133855/https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf Archived] (PDF) from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Federal+Trade+Commission&rft.atitle=A+Look+Behind+the+Screens%3A+Examining+the+Data+Practices+of+Social+Media+and+Video+Streaming+Services&rft.date=2024-09-11&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ftc.gov%2Fsystem%2Ffiles%2Fftc_gov%2Fpdf%2FSocial-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

The investigation revealed Discord collects extensive user data, including:
*Message content and metadata
*Voice-chat participation
*Server membership and activity
*Device and location information
Particular concern was raised about:
*[https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-312 Collection of data from users under 13]
*Handling of minors' user information
*Inadequate age-verification systems
The FTC identified multiple areas where Discord's practices put users at risk:
*Identity theft exposure
*Potential stalking risks
*Discrimination concerns
*Mental health and emotional impact

The FTC concluded that Discord's data practices posed unacceptable risks to users, particularly minors, and recommended significant reforms to the platform's privacy protection measures.<ref><templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles><cite id="CITEREFTolentino2024" class="citation web cs1">Tolentino, Daysia (19 Sep 2024). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 "Social media companies engaged in 'vast surveillance,' FTC finds, calling status quo 'unacceptable'"]. ''NBC News''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919171049/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/social-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814 Archived] from the original on 19 Sep 2024. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Social+media+companies+engaged+in+%27vast+surveillance%2C%27+FTC+finds%2C+calling+status+quo+%27unacceptable%27&rft.date=2024-09-19&rft.aulast=Tolentino&rft.aufirst=Daysia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Fsecurity%2Fsocial-media-companies-engaged-vast-surveillance-ftc-finds-calling-sta-rcna171814&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fconsumerrights.wiki%3ADiscord" class="Z3988"></ref>

===Reinforcement of forced arbitration (Sept. 2025)===
Announced August 29th, 2025, and put into effect September 29th, 2025, Discord updated and re-iterated their [[forced arbitration]] clause but gave users another option to opt-out of forced arbitration until October 29th, 2025, for existing accounts, or 30 days after initial agreement for new accounts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-29 |title=Discord's Terms of Service |url=https://discord.com/terms#16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007023150/https://discord.com/terms#16 |archive-date=2025-10-07 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord.com}}</ref> Users are automatically opted into the forced arbitration clause unless they take specific action to opt out of it within 30 days. Instead, if users chose to delete their accounts, the platform required them to accept the terms in order to access their account, from which they could then delete it, making acceptance of the new terms mandatory.
[[File:Discord Forced Arbitration 1.png|alt=An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application.|thumb|(2025-09-29) An example of Discord forcing users to agree to arbitration if they want to continue using the application. The terms of service at the time of this screenshot includes forced arbitration and disallows users from filing a class-action lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Discord |date=2025-09-29 |title=Terms of Service {{!}} Discord |url=https://discord.com/terms |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=Discord}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260222174800/https://discord.com/terms Archived])</ref>]]

===Third-Party customer service data breach (Oct. 2025)===
{{Main|Discord / 5CA Data Breach}}
In October 2025, Discord issued a press release announcing a "Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service [5CA]", in which "the unauthorized party [...] gained access to a small number of government‑ID images (e.g., driver’s license, passport) from users who had appealed an age determination," as well as other personal data provided to support.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-03 |title=Update on a Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251006163040/https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |archive-date=2025-10-06 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Discord}}</ref> The number of ID images accessed was approximately 70,000, and the third-party in question was later named as 5CA.<ref name=":2" /> The hackers involved in the breach have revealed that the data was accessed via Zendesk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Troy |date=2025-10-04 |title=X |url=https://x.com/troyhunt/status/1974558088847102289}}</ref>

===Announcement of age verification coming in March (Feb. 2026)===
{{Main|Discord's Mandatory Age Verification}}
In February 2026, Discord issued a press release announcing "enhanced teen safety features rolling out globally", which begins with a "rollout to new and existing users in early March", that may require users "to engage in an age-verification process to change certain settings or access sensitive content".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-09 |title=Discord Launches Teen-by-Default Settings Globally |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260209142047/https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally |archive-date=2026-02-09 |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=Discord}}</ref>

On February 9, 2026, a [https://www.change.org/p/prevent-discord-from-implementing-id-verification Change.org petition] was created to prevent Discord from implementing the age verification globally.

===Discord's connections to Palantir===
Discord in the UK once utilized<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=2026-02-23 |title=Discord distances itself from Persona age verification after user backlash |url=https://www.theverge.com/tech/878369/discord-persona-age-verification |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224163803/https://www.theverge.com/tech/878369/discord-persona-age-verification |archive-date=2026-02-24 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Giono |first=Catherina |date=2026-02-24 |title=Discord distances itself from Peter Thiel–backed verification software after its code was found on a Google Cloud endpoint |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260226164710/https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/ |archive-date=2026-02-26 |website=Fortune}}</ref> [[Persona]] as a third-party, specialized vendor for age verification, requiring UK-based users to submit facial scans or ID to access restricted content. A since redacted statement on the support.discord.com web-page under the "How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord" article stated<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260212201755/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |archive-date=2026-02-12 |website=Discord}}</ref>:{{Quote|"Important: If you're located in the UK, you may be part of an experiment where your information will be processed by an age-assurance vendor, Persona. The Information you submit will be temporarily stored for up to 7 days, then deleted. For ID document verification, all details are blurred except your photo and date of birth, so only what's truly needed for age verification is used".}}
[[File:Discord Article Changes.png|alt=This image shows the Screenshorts of the changes support article on Discord's support page|thumb|Changes between the 15th of February compared to the 19th of February 2026]]
After significant backlash from the online community, Discord has changed their statement under the article (as of February 19th, 2026)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=How to Complete Age Assurance on Discord |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218072524/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/30326565624343-How-to-Complete-Age-Assurance-on-Discord |archive-date=2026-02-18 |website=Discord}}</ref>: {{Quote|"Note: Some users in regions outside the UK and Australia may see age-assurance prompts when accessing certain features or settings as part of ongoing experiments."}}

Discord does not further clarify what the "experiments" entail. Furthermore, the more detailed help-center article does not contain any mentions of the vendor Persona. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bubbles |title=What’s Changing for UK Users Due to the UK Online Safety Act |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959-What-s-Changing-for-UK-Users-Due-to-the-UK-Online-Safety-Act |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228040004/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959-What-s-Changing-for-UK-and-Australian-Users |archive-date=2026-02-28 |website=Discord}}</ref> 

Persona is an identity verification tool producer, that has received $200 million dollars<ref>{{Cite web |last=Song |first=Rick |date=2026-01-21 |title=Announcing Persona’s $200M Series D |url=https://withpersona.com/blog/series-d |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218172300/https://withpersona.com/blog/series-d |archive-date=2026-02-18 |website=*Persona}}</ref> from the Founders Fund<ref>{{Cite web |title=Persona |url=https://foundersfund.com/company/persona/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228040423/https://foundersfund.com/company/persona/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Founders' Fund - Portfolio |url=https://foundersfund.com/portfolio/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228034728/https://foundersfund.com/portfolio/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref>, a venture capital group headed by Peter Thiel<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peter Thiel |url=https://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528193728/http://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/ |archive-date=2016-05-28 |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=Founders Fund}}</ref>. Peter Thiel is also the co-founder of Palantir Technologies Inc, a global surveillance company.<ref name=":3" />

===Inactive account deletions===
Discord has a [[Inactive account deletion|deletion policy on inactive accounts]], in which accounts that are not used for 2 years or more may be scheduled for deletion. Before the deletion of an inactive account, users may receive an email or text message warning that their account is scheduled for deletion. Such policies could adversely affect those who had good reasons to become inactive for a long time, such as hospitalization, prison incarceration, and being in totalitarian countries that have prolonged internet shutdowns. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Librarian |date=2023-06-14 |title=Inactive Account Deletion |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210025748/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/5106714856215-Inactive-Account-Deletion |archive-date=2026-02-10 |website=Discord}}</ref>

===SDK vulnerability with Arc Raiders integration (March 2026)===
In March 2026, Timothy Meadows, a computer engineer discovered a privacy and security vulnerability that involved Discord's [[wikipedia:Software_development_kit|software developer kit (SDK)]] and integrations with the [[wikipedia:Arc_Raiders|Arc Raiders]] game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meadows |first=Timothy |date=3 Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders - Discord SDK Data Exposure |url=https://timothymeadows.com/arc-raiders-discord-sdk-data-exposure/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/pktbu |archive-date=2026-03-06 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=timothymeadows.com}}</ref> This vulnerability affected the users with their Discord account linked with the game, allowing the software to log and store locally Discord private conversations, user credentials and other user information in an unencrypted log file. If the Arc Raiders game crashes, this file could be sent to the game developers. Embark Studios disabled the SDK integration after the incident was announced. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Klotz |first=Aaron |date=Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders was accidentally recording Discord conversations into an unencrypted local game file — vulnerability in SDK could log messages and credentials in plaintext |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/pc-gaming/arc-raiders-was-accidentally-recording-discord-conversations-into-an-unencrypted-local-game-file-vulnerability-in-sdk-could-log-messages-and-credentials-in-plaintext |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/kWBIf |archive-date=2026-03-07 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=Tom's Hardware}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Marnell |first=Blair |date=6 Mar 2026 |title=Arc Raiders Was Recording Private Discord DMs |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/arc-raiders-was-recording-private-discord-dms/1100-6538629/|url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/2ZQ1M |archive-date=2026-03-08 |access-date=8 Mar 2026 |website=Gamespot}}</ref>
Before the incident was known, when an user linked their Discord account, a pop-up claimed that Arc Raiders "cannot read users' messages". {{Citation needed}}

===Discord's Protection of Sexual Predators and Pedophiles (March 2024 - Present)===
[[File:Discord's protection of pedophiles.png|thumb|First Offence is 24hr mute , with it as a active violation that stays on your profile for 4 years , when going after active pedophiles.]]
In March 2024, Discord sees pedophiles as a protected class; they don't even care about your children. Anyone who takes action against them will be hit with the [https://discord.com/safety/hateful-conduct-policy-explainer hateful conduct policy] First offence on Discord for going after pedophiles will be shown in the image on the right. <ref>{{Cite news |first=Lucas |date=April 12th , 2025 |title=Discord Banned a Roblox Bot that Protects Kids... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJD9MQLaQ-g |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Solution to delete an account without agreeing to the updated ToS==

*Visit [https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/212500837-How-to-Delete-your-Discord-Account How to delete Discord account] and scroll to "Having Trouble Deleting Your Discord Account?" Find the link titled "Reach out to our support team". Direct link subject to user instance - http://dis.gd/support

*Fill out the "Submit a request" form. (A web search for "Submit a request Discord" may help users find the form. Be sure to answer the question "What can we help you with?" with "Help and Support" from the drop-down.) '''Please fill out the form using the same email address associated with your Discord account, as this process may need to be restarted if it is not.''' In the form, under "Type of question," there is an option for "Account deletion request". Proceed to fill out and submit the form with any other relevant information. An email will then be sent with further instructions, including how to proceed with account deletion, which involves responding to the email with "I confirm that I would like to delete the account associated with [user email]." '''The response must be received from the same email as the one associated with the Discord account.'''

==Solution to disable forced updates on Linux==
If you're running a .deb installation of Discord, you can disable forced updates by adding "SKIP_HOST_UPDATE": true to ~/.config/discord/settings.json.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pardomuan |first=Patar Isac |date=2025-04-26 |title=How I Bypassed Discord’s Forced Update on Linux |url=https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Medium |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251004041109/https://medium.com/@patarisac/how-i-bypassed-discords-forced-update-on-linux-2bbc39b5949c |archive-date=4 Oct 2025}}</ref>[[File:Discord Vague Infringement example.png|thumb|An example of how Discord handles its moderation from a user's perspective.]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Discord]]
[[Category:Forced arbitration]]

File:Discord's protection of pedophiles.png

2026-03-14T07:02:06Z

Obieden:

Those who go after pedophiles on discord on first offence are hit with a 24hr mute and it stays on active violations for 4 years.