It's an app used by over half a billion people, many of them teenagers. But the question is, is Discord safe?
Discord app logo. Photo: DW
Russia's telecoms regulator Roskomnadzor banned Discord on Tuesday (October 8), accusing the app of failing to prevent terrorist, extremist and drug-trafficking activities. Roskomnadzor said Discord was "actively used by criminals" and had failed to comply with an order issued on October 1 to remove nearly 1,000 pieces of illegal content.
The app has previously been fined by Russia for failing to remove banned content. Western social media platforms have been frequently targeted by Russia since its conflict with Ukraine in 2022, with familiar names like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook banned in Russia.
A day after Russia's ban, Türkiye followed suit, citing similar reasons. Turkish telecommunications authority BTK blocked Discord nationwide following an Ankara court ruling. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said the ban was aimed at "protecting children" from online abuse on Discord. He also stressed his determination to protect young people from harmful and criminal content on social media.
The blocking of Discord in Türkiye comes after prosecutors investigated allegations that some Discord users were blackmailing children into sending them intimate images. Turkish media agency Anadolu reported that some users had praised the murder of two 19-year-old women in Istanbul in private groups on Discord.
In the United States, Discord has been investigated by the FBI in connection with criminal cases where the platform was allegedly used by criminals to abuse children. Some of the high-profile cases involving Discord include the arrest of the leader of the neo-Nazi gang “Order of the Nine Angles,” who targeted children on the app. In 2023, NBC News reported that there had been 35 convictions involving adults using Discord to defraud, kidnap, or sexually assault children in the past six years.
Discord has come under scrutiny from governments and regulators, particularly in Europe and the United States. In November 2022, France fined the platform €800,000 for violating European Union (EU) data protection regulations. Discord is also subject to scrutiny under the EU's Digital Services Act, which requires platforms to promptly remove harmful content.
Several states in the US have passed laws aimed at protecting children online, forcing platforms like Discord to step up age verification and personal data protection measures.
Discord first launched in 2015 as a communication tool for gamers, but has evolved into a broader communication platform, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The app allows users to make voice and video calls, message, and share content in private or public virtual communities.
Discord now has more than 150 million active users, with followers ranging from cryptocurrency investment groups to those with controversial political views.
Cao Phong (according to Reuters NBC News, DW)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ly-do-nga-va-tho-nhi-ky-chan-ung-dung-nhan-tin-discord-post316475.html
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