Discord: age checks in the UK
Age-restricted channels and some safety settings need a check in the UK. On-device facial estimation via k-ID; ID documents via Veratad. Persona was trialled in January 2026 and dropped on 24 February 2026.
Age check for some content or features Messaging Discord Inc. verified 6 September 2026
Facts panel
Everything here is what the service, its vendor or a regulator has published, with the source and the date we read it. No adjectives.
- Domain
- discord.com
- Age check
- Age check for some content or features, first recorded July 2025
- Triggered by
- adult or mature content; specific features
- Applies to
- all UK users
- Notes
- Global rollout delayed to H2 2026 after the Persona backlash.
- Methods
- Face scanPhoto ID
- Vendors
- k-ID, Veratad
- Last verified
- 6 September 2026
Methods and retention, one row per method
| Method | Provider | Retention, as published | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facial age estimation (face scan) | k-ID |
“k-ID does NOT store the information that you provide to prove your age. All we store is the result of the verification process.” Quoted from k-id.com, dated 10 July 2026; checked 6 September 2026. Held by the vendor. Period as stated: On-device; images never uploaded. Notes: Discord states the selfie is processed on the device. |
discord.com, dated 24 February 2026 Primary source · checked 6 September 2026 |
| Photo ID | Veratad |
No published retention period found (checked 6 September 2026). Notes: ID images and match selfies "are deleted once an age group is confirmed" per press quoting Discord; Discord UK help page returned 403. |
alternativeto.net Secondary source (press) · checked 6 September 2026 |
What you will see
- What happens
- Trying to open an age-restricted channel prompts a face scan on your device or an ID upload.
- How long it takes
- Not stated by the service.
- If you decline
- Age-restricted channels stay locked.
- Official help page
- support.discord.com
Questions people ask about Discord
Does Discord require age verification in the UK?
For some content or features. As of 6 September 2026, Discord asks UK users to complete an age check for adult or mature content and specific features, applying to all UK users. First recorded July 2025.
Is the Discord age check a face scan?
A face scan (facial age estimation) is one of 2 recorded methods: Facial age estimation (face scan) and Photo ID. Providers named: k-ID and Veratad. Which methods a service offers can change; the date each was checked is shown on the page.
What does Discord keep after the age check?
Facial age estimation (face scan) via k-ID: "k-ID does NOT store the information that you provide to prove your age. All we store is the result of the verification process." (k-id.com, dated 10 July 2026; checked 6 September 2026). Photo ID via Veratad: No published retention period found (checked 6 September 2026).
What if the Discord age check is not working?
This site records what the service publishes; it does not troubleshoot or offer workarounds. Discord's own help page is https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/33362401287959. The service lists 2 methods, so a second method may be offered if one fails: Facial age estimation (face scan) and Photo ID. If you do not complete the check, the service states: Age-restricted channels stay locked.
Regulator actions
No Ofcom or ICO action naming this service is recorded as of 6 September 2026.
Sources for this entry
- Discord blog 24 Feb 2026 service policy 24 February 2026
- EFF press February 2026
Changes to this record
- — seed: record created from research/01 and research/02 seed
Correct this entry
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