Discord Delays Global Age Verification Rollout to Late 2026

Discord has delayed its global age verification rollout to the second half of 2026 following widespread criticism over privacy and data security. The company confirmed the move in a Feb 24, 2026, blog post. It had previously been stated that age verification would be required starting in March 2026.

Accounts unable to verify would have been limited to a teen-appropriate experience.

The backlash followed concerns that some users could be asked to submit facial scans or government ID documents. The announcement came months after Discord disclosed a breach involving a third-party customer service provider. The incident may have exposed government ID photos of about 70K users.

Co-founder and CTO, Stanislav Vishnevskiy, acknowledged communication failures. “In hindsight, we should have provided more detail about our intentions and how the process works,” he wrote. 

He said many users came away with the impression that face scans and ID uploads would be mandatory for everyone. Vishnevskiy concluded that the company “failed at our most basic job: clearly explaining what we're doing and why.”

Discord Age Verification: What Changes Before Global Launch

Discord stated that over 90% of users will not need to verify their age. Internal systems estimate age using account signals like longevity and payment methods, without reading messages or content.

For those required to verify, options will expand to include payment card verification. Users who decline will retain access to servers, DMs, voice chat, and friends lists. They will not be able to access age-restricted content.

The company pledged full transparency on verification vendors and will publish data handling practices before launch. A limited UK test with Persona was discontinued, and all related data was deleted after verification. 

Meanwhile, Discord pointed out that Persona did not meet its requirement that facial age estimation be performed entirely on-device.

Discord said it will continue complying with age-verification laws in the UK, Australia, and Brazil while refining its global approach. The move comes as regulators in Europe and several U.S. states advance similar mandates.