Discord will soon require users worldwide to verify their age with a face scan or ID to access adult content, the online chat service announced, as the EU told Meta to allow rival AI chatbots on WhatsApp. Meanwhile, Spotify reported a surge in subscribers, and a new study warned of the dangers of AI chatbots giving medical advice. These developments come as Bangladesh prepares for its first election since the 2024 uprising.
Discord, which boasts over 200 million monthly users, will roll out age verification measures globally from early March. This move, designed to protect teen users, will require users to verify their age via face scan or ID upload to access adult content, according to BBC Technology. The company already implements age checks in the UK and Australia to comply with online safety laws.
In other tech news, the European Union has instructed Meta to allow rival AI firms' chatbots on WhatsApp, claiming the tech giant breached its rules by blocking them. The EU stated that WhatsApp is a crucial entry point for AI chatbots like ChatGPT to reach users, and accused Meta of abusing its dominant position. A Meta spokesperson told the BBC that the EU had "no reason" to intervene.
Spotify, despite facing criticism from artists over fees, saw a significant increase in subscribers. Paid subscribers jumped by 9 million in the last three months of 2025, reaching 290 million. This growth helped the music giant's net profit rise to 1.17 billion, as reported in its financial results. However, the platform continues to face criticism regarding the amount paid to artists for having their songs on the platform, despite paying almost 11 billion to artists.
A study from the University of Oxford cautioned about the risks of AI chatbots providing medical advice. Researchers found that AI chatbots give inaccurate and inconsistent advice, potentially posing dangers to users. Dr. Rebecca Payne, lead medical practitioner on the study, stated that it could be "dangerous" for people to ask chatbots about their symptoms.
Finally, Bangladesh is preparing for its 13th general election, the first since the 2024 uprising. The election, scheduled for Thursday, will be heavily guarded by over 157,000 police officers, 100,000 soldiers, and thousands of other security personnel. Nearly 127 million people are eligible to vote.
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