Is Discord Safe?

If you use or plan to use Discord, you need to know: Is Discord safe? 

Below, we explain whether Discord is: 

• Safe for individuals to use.
• Good for privacy. 

We also give some steps you can take to improve both your safety and privacy when using this online service. 

What is Discord?

Discord is a free communication platform that allows users to connect through voice, video, and text chats. It can be used through a browser or an app. 

Originally designed for gamers to communicate while playing, Discord has, over time, been used for almost every kind of community, from local groups for making friends to gangs of anonymous hackers.

Discord has features like: 

• Servers and channels. Servers are dedicated spaces for communities/groups; each server can be public or invite-only. Servers can have multiple channels, which can be text or voice-based.
• Direct messaging. Apart from server-based communication, users can send private messages to others on their friends list. 
• Streaming and sharing. Users can stream their gameplay or other activities directly in Discord, allowing others to watch live.

Is Discord Safe?

Yes, Discord is generally considered safe for people to use. 

In its Safety Center, Discord says it is “working to make Discord private and safe, by design.” Discord’s Safety Center provides resources on how to make your Discord experience as safe and private as possible. 

Some of Discord’s safety features include two-factor authentication and a DM spam filter (which automatically sends DMs that might be spam into a spam inbox). There are also settings that let you only receive DMs from people on your friends list and control who can send you friend requests (everyone, friends of friends, or no one). 

You can report inappropriate content or behavior directly to Discord’s moderation team.

Discord also has a Transparency Hub, where you can find Discord’s Transparency reports, which detail the enforcement actions the company has taken against accounts and servers that violated its policies. 

Is Discord Private?

Depends on your definition of “private.”

According to Discord, the company “care[s] a lot about privacy.” 

In its Privacy Hub, Discord says that it limits the information it collects about users and that when they no longer need the data they collected about you, they anonymize, aggregate, or delete it. It says it asks third-party integrations to do the same.  

Discord says it has built privacy protective measures into its architecture. For instance, it says all information sent within its servers is encrypted in transit and at rest. 

The company also clearly states that “you’re not the product” and that it doesn’t make money by selling your data. It also explains how you can control how Discord uses your data. 

Discord has several privacy features. These include (but are not limited to):

• Activity status. You can display/hide your online status and show/hide what game you are playing.
• Connection privacy. Discord lets you link your accounts from other platforms and display/hide these connections on your profile to control who sees your linked accounts.

Something to note is that your participation in Discord chat rooms isn’t necessarily private. In 2018, authorities sought to use Discord chat room conversations as evidence against an organizer of the 2017 “Unite the Right” protests in Charlottesville, which resulted in the death of a demonstrator.

Discord had been a coordination platform for neo-Nazis, and a legal battle unfolded over whether it was possible to unmask anonymous users on Discord. In August 2018, a judicial decision affirmed that user identities and their communications could be disclosed to the litigants (but not the general public).

As for Discord’s privacy policy, it doesn’t get the best reviews from third parties that rate services’ policies. 

*Privacy Not Included, a buyer’s guide by the Mozilla Foundation that evaluates the privacy and security of services and products, notes that Discord’s privacy policy is vaguely worded. 

Terms of Service; Didn’t Read, an online project that rates internet services’ terms of service policies, gives Discord an “E” rating. Some of the issues it highlights include:

• The service can read your private messages.
• Information about you is gathered through third parties.
• Instead of asking directly, Discord assumes consent through the usage of its services.

The Common Sense Privacy Project, a project that rates apps and services for kids’ privacy, gives Discord a 65% rating, which is a “Warning.” 

In 2023, Discord experienced backlash for quietly altering its privacy policy to remove promises not to collect data about screen recordings, videos, and voice chats. After negative user and media reactions, it changed the policy back. 

How to Improve Your Safety and Privacy on Discord

Follow the steps below for a more private and secure experience on Discord. 

• Enable two-factor authentication. By setting up 2FA, you will need to provide a unique code in addition to your password when logging into your Discord account. 
• Manage your privacy settings. Discord has various privacy settings that let you decide who can contact you, view your online status, and access your server invites. Review and customize these settings according to your preferences and comfort level.
• Be careful with links. Be cautious when clicking on links shared on Discord, especially if they are from unknown sources or seem suspicious. Malicious links can lead to phishing attempts or malware infections. If in doubt, it is best to avoid clicking on the link or verify its authenticity with the sender before proceeding.
• Don’t overshare. Don’t share personal or sensitive information on Discord unnecessarily, especially in public channels. Remember that once your information is out there, it’s pretty much impossible to control its distribution or prevent misuse.
• Choose reliable and moderated communities. Before joining a new server or community, research its reputation and moderation policies. Look for communities that prioritize safety, have active moderation, and have clear guidelines against harassment or inappropriate behavior.
• Audit your server memberships. Regularly review and leave servers you no longer participate in or that do not meet your privacy and safety standards.