New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin initiated legal proceedings against Discord on April 17, 2025, alleging the messaging platform misled consumers about its child safety features and failed to protect minors adequately. The lawsuit claims Discord violated state consumer fraud laws through ineffective safety measures and inadequate age verification systems.

Discord’s Safety Features Under Scrutiny

The lawsuit centres on Discord’s alleged misrepresentation of its platform’s safety for young users. According to court documents, the company’s “Safe Direct Messaging” feature, designed to filter explicit content automatically, proved ineffective in protecting minors from potential threats.

Attorney General Platkin emphasised the severity of the situation, stating that Discord marketed itself as a safe environment for children while being aware that its safety settings and oversight were insufficient to prevent predatory behaviour.

Critical Safety Failures Alleged

New Jersey officials identified several key areas where Discord’s safety measures reportedly fell short. The platform’s age verification process was particularly criticised for being too lenient, enabling adults to potentially impersonate minors and circumvent age restrictions intended to protect young users.

The state’s legal team argues that Discord’s implementation of ambiguous safety settings created a false sense of security for both parents and children, constituting what they describe as an unconscionable commercial practice that undermines user safety.

Platform’s Defence and Industry Impact

Discord has responded to the allegations by defending its commitment to user safety. A company spokesperson emphasised their ongoing investments in safety tools and features, though specific details of these improvements were not provided.

This legal action represents a broader trend of increased scrutiny of social media platforms’ child safety measures. Discord’s current testing of AI face-scanning technology for age verification demonstrates the industry’s movement toward more robust protection methods, though critics maintain that additional safeguards are necessary.

Looking Forward

The lawsuit’s outcome could have significant implications for how digital platforms approach child safety measures. As social media continues to evolve, the case highlights the growing importance of implementing and maintaining effective protective measures for young users in online spaces.

Source: CNBC