Discord'S Age Verification Drama: Streamers Sound Off

Discord's Age Verification Sparks Outcry

Alastair, known to his legions of followers as Eret, has emerged as a leading voice in the recent wave of criticism directed at Discord’s new age verification requirements. A prominent LGBT streamer with over a million fans on Twitch, Alastair hosts a bustling community of around 60,000 members on his Discord server. This trusted online space now faces uncertainty with Discord's latest policy changes.

The British-American content creator, who has chosen not to disclose his full name, voiced his concerns about the platform requiring users to verify their age, fearing the implications for privacy and data security. "A lot of people use the online world as a place where they can talk about things that they might not feel safe talking about with people in the real world," Alastair explained. "I really do not want to send Discord my ID given their track record – I do not trust them." His apprehensions are rooted in a past incident where official ID photos of 70,000 users were potentially leaked.

“I just want to be able to make my content," Alastair said. "I want to interact with my community, and know that whatever platform they're talking on, they're going to be safe.”

A Growing Chorus of Concern

Alastair isn’t alone in his worries. Fellow creators like Toby, better known as Tubbo, who boasts over 5.2 million Twitch followers, share similar sentiments. Despite Discord's assurances, Toby expressed distrust about the security of his personal data in the face of mandatory age verification. He pointed out the potential risks of social media platforms requiring sensitive data, like 3D facial scans and official documents, without clear data handling protocols.

American streamer Katie, known as Pikachulita, echoed these privacy concerns. She raised questions about Discord's ability to ensure data protection against hackers and other malicious entities. "We live in a time when it's not too far-fetched to believe that companies like Discord could share this data with state or federal agencies," Katie noted, highlighting the broader implications of such data practices.

Discord's Response and Future

Discord has attempted to allay fears by clarifying that their age estimation technology will mean most users won't need to undergo such checks. However, their trial of new age-checking software in the UK, backed by an investment firm co-founded by Peter Thiel, has only fueled further scrutiny.

Starting March, new and existing users will be placed in a "teen-by-default" environment, with stricter access controls unless age verification confirms they are adults. This move has sparked a rise in searches for Discord alternatives as users reassess their online platform choices.

Dr. Peter Macaulay from the University of Derby highlighted the challenge tech companies face in balancing child safety with community trust. The sentiment is echoed by Prof. Carissa Véliz of Oxford University, who warned about the difficulty in ensuring companies adhere to their data promises.

For creators like Alastair, Toby, and Katie, the priority remains clear: advancing child safety should not come at the expense of users' sensitive information. Their voices underscore a pivotal moment for Discord and the broader implications for privacy in the digital age.