Discord will decide which servers to age-gate 'with a combination of automated detection with AI validation and human review'

Discord will decide which servers to age-gate ‘with a combination of automated detection with AI validation and human review’ | PC Gamer Skip to main content Open menu Close main menu PC Gamer THE GLOBAL AUTHORITY ON PC GAMES US Edition UK US Canada Australia Subscribe Sign in View Profile Sign out Search Search PC Gamer Games Hardware News Reviews Guides Video Forum More PC Gaming Show Software Movies & TV Codes Coupons Magazine Newsletter Affiliate links Meet the team Community guidelines About PC Gamer PC Gamer Magazine SubscriptionWhy subscribe?Subscribe to the world’s #1 PC gaming magTry a single issue or save on a subscriptionIssues delivered straight to your door or device From$1Subscribe now Don’t miss these Games Discord is rolling out facial scanning and ID checks globally in March for users who don’t want to be locked into a ‘teen-appropriate experience’ Platforms Oh, good: Discord’s age verification rollout has ties to Palantir co-founder and panopticon architect Peter Thiel Platforms Here’s what happens if you don’t complete Discord age verification Hardware I’ve tested 3 free Discord alternatives in a desperate attempt not to offer up my personal data just to talk to my favorite weirdos Games Discord’s new age verification rules got you down? 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Software Discord Discord will decide which servers to age-gate ‘with a combination of automated detection with AI validation and human review’ News By Jody Macgregor published 16 February 2026 What could possibly go wrong? When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Eidos) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter PC Gamer Get the PC Gamer Newsletter Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday GamesRadar+ Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you’re going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Signup + Every Thursday GTA 6 O’clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O’clock experts. Signup + Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what’s on the horizon. Signup + Every Thursday The Setup Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more. Signup + Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo’s new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play. Signup + Every Saturday The Watchlist Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we’ve got you covered. Signup + Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! Signup + An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter In March, Discord will be rolling out facial scanning and ID checks globally for users who don’t want to be locked into a “teen-appropriate experience”. Some of the stuff being restricted is fairly specific, and even if you were locked out of it because, say, you had privacy concerns and weren’t comfortable giving Discord your info to prove you’re an adult, maybe you wouldn’t miss it.Losing the ability to talk in “stage channels” where designated speakers talk to an audience who can only listen, for instance, wouldn’t change the way most people use Discord.That’s not the only thing you’d lose out on if you were stuck in Teenage Discord Purgatory, though. As well as a bunch of additional restrictions on direct messages and friend requests, you’ll be age-gated from participating in certain servers entirely. And how will those servers be chosen? Related articles Discord is rolling out facial scanning and ID checks globally in March for users who don’t want to be locked into a ‘teen-appropriate experience’ Oh, good: Discord’s age verification rollout has ties to Palantir co-founder and panopticon architect Peter Thiel Discord clarifies it ‘is not requiring everyone to complete a face scan or upload an ID’ and will ‘confirm your age group using information we already have’ Speaking to GamesMarket, a Discord representative did at least clarify that, “We do not automatically age-gate servers or content related to a specific game based on its rating alone”. So that’s something. Instead, the filtering will be done “with a combination of automated detection with AI validation and