Discord will soon require users globally to verify their age with a face scan or ID to access adult content, while the EU has told Meta to allow rival AI chatbots on WhatsApp, according to recent reports. These developments come as India expands the reach of its digital identity system, Aadhaar, and a new study highlights the risks of AI chatbots providing medical advice.
Discord announced it would begin requiring users worldwide to verify their age with a face scan or ID to access adult content, according to BBC Technology. This measure, set to roll out from early March, aims to place all users into a teen-appropriate experience "by default." The online chat service, which boasts over 200 million monthly users, already implements age verification in the UK and Australia to comply with online safety laws.
In a separate development, the EU has ordered Meta to allow rival AI firms' chatbots on WhatsApp, claiming the tech giant breached its rules by blocking them. The European Commission stated that WhatsApp is an "important entry point" for AI chatbots like ChatGPT to reach people, and accused Meta of abusing its dominant position. A Meta spokesperson told the BBC the EU had "no reason" to intervene and claimed the EU had "incorrectly" assumed WhatsApp Business was a key way that people use chatbots.
Meanwhile, a study from the University of Oxford found that AI chatbots give inaccurate and inconsistent medical advice, potentially posing risks to users. Researchers gave 1,300 people a scenario, such as having a headache, and found the advice varied in quality. Dr. Rebecca Payne, lead medical practitioner on the study, said it could be "dangerous" for people to ask chatbots about their symptoms. Polling by Mental Health UK in November 2025 found that over one in three UK residents now use AI to support their mental health or wellbeing.
In India, the government is pushing Aadhaar, the world's largest digital identity system, deeper into everyday private life. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) announced a new Aadhaar app and offline verification framework in late January. This allows individuals to prove their identity without real-time checks against the central Aadhaar database. The app allows users to share a limited amount of information, such as confirming that they are over a certain age rather than revealing their full date of birth, with a range of services.
These developments highlight the evolving landscape of technology and its impact on user safety, competition, and privacy.
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