Discord is a VoIP application very common among gamers, available both as an application and on a web-browser, it is very reminiscent of IRC platforms with the ability to put users in voice contact.
The company has made its report on service transparency available. In the document we learn that from April to December the company has banned approximately 5.2 million accounts. The most common reasons for account exclusion are spam and deceptive content, these include the non-consensual (so called “revenge ##$”), as well as sexual content related to minors.
Discord acts thanks to user reports but an important part does it proactive implementation of the service. In fact, the company explains how the proactive action of the ban takes place and wishes to clarify that the privacy is paramount. We therefore try to balance users’ privacy with the rules of use of the platform. Discord analyzes all the photos and videos uploaded on the platform via PhotoDNA, industry standard in detecting matches with material known as child sexual abuse. When a match is found in the service’s databases, Discord analyzes your account activity on the service looking for accomplices and other sources of content.
NCP
SCRM
Violent content
According to data provided by the company about the 70% of servers with NCP content (Non-consensual sexual content) was eliminated before the user could get in touch with it nearly 60% of SCRM servers (sexual content related to minors) has been banned proactively.
The company knows that the algorithm is not foolproof so any banned user can appeal through the system “Trust & Safety” by Discord who will review the original report taking into account the seriousness of the violations. Of the 5.2 million bans made, only 16,000 were reinstated on appeal.
Discord wants to keep the platform clean and “every violation is one too many” and wants to do its part aggressively to stop bad behaviors before they reach users’ eyes.
