Identification Images of 70,000 Users Could Have Been Leaked, Discord Says

Discord, a chat application favored among gaming communities, announces that government identification images of approximately 70,000 users have potentially been leaked in the wake of a cyber-attack.

Partner Company Targeted

The service, which has more than 200 million users internationally, reports that digital intruders had targeted a firm that helped to verify the age verification of its users but the Discord platform itself was not directly affected.

Account holders can submit identification images to confirm their age on Discord - a networking hub for gamers to communicate and exchange content with others in the gaming community.

Range of Information Leak

The exposed information could include personal information, partial credit card details and correspondence that were exchanged with the company's help desk staff.

Complete payment card information was not, login credentials, or messages and activity beyond conversations with Discord's customer support agents were exposed, the firm said.

Response Measures

Every affected account holder have been contacted and Discord is collaborating with law enforcement to investigate the matter, it added.

The company announced it has withdrawn the customer support provider's access to the platform that was compromised in the attack. Discord chose not to specify the third-party company affected.

Contradictory Statements

Some internet observers have alleged that the data breach was larger than Discord has acknowledged.

A spokesperson for Discord stated that those assertions are false and "constitute an effort to coerce funds" from the company.

"We will not reward those responsible for their criminal activities," the spokesperson continued.

Importance of Individual Details

Digital thieves often pursue personal data, which can obtain significant value on the illegal marketplace for use in fraudulent schemes.

Details including entire names and verified identity numbers is highly sought-after because, in contrast to payment information, it generally stays constant over time.

Past Verification Initiatives

Discord has earlier reinforced its age confirmation procedures in reaction to worries that some servers on the application were being used to distribute inappropriate and harmful content.

• Approximately 70,000 users impacted
• External identity confirmation firm breached
• Incomplete payment information potentially exposed
• Support correspondence may have been accessed
• Police engaged in probe