Discord, the messaging app widely used by gamers, has reported a potential data breach affecting roughly 70,000 users, with official ID photos possibly exposed following a cyberattack.
The platform which boasts over 200 million users globally, clarified that the attack targeted a third-party company responsible for age verification, and that its own platform remained secure.
On Discord, users can submit ID photos to confirm their age. The platform serves as a social hub where gamers connect, chat, and share files within the gaming community.
Discord, based in San Francisco, said the leaked information could include personal data, partial credit card numbers, and messages exchanged with the platform’s customer support team.
The company emphasized that no complete credit card information, passwords, or user activity beyond support conversations were exposed. Discord has notified all affected users and is cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation.
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Discord stated that it has cut off the third-party support provider’s access to the compromised system but did not disclose the company’s name.
A spokesperson for Zendesk, the customer service software used by Discord, told the BBC that its systems remained secure and that the breach was not due to any flaw in its platform.
Some online users have suggested that the breach affected more people than Discord has acknowledged.
A Discord spokesperson told the BBC that such claims are false and “part of an attempt to extort payment.”
“We will not reward those responsible for their illegal actions,” the spokesperson added.
Cybercriminals often seek personal information, which can fetch significant sums on the black market and be used for fraudulent schemes.
Data such as full names and government-issued ID numbers is particularly prized by hackers, as it generally remains constant, unlike credit card information.
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Discord has previously enhanced its age-verification processes amid worries that certain servers were being used to share pornographic or extremist content.
In April, Discord began testing facial recognition technology to verify the ages of some users in the UK and Australia.
Originally popular with gamers, the platform now hosts communities spanning a variety of topics, including adult content. Under the UK’s online safety regulations, platforms that feature such material must implement “robust” age verification measures by July, earlier reported.
Discord started as a messaging platform for gamers but has grown into a hub for communities covering a broad range of interests, from politics and education to social activism. Its popularity stems from features like real-time communication, flexibility, and user anonymity. Despite its growth, the platform continues to grapple with issues around content moderation, user safety, and data privacy.