Before being updated last month, Discord’s privacy policy explicitly promised to warn users “in advance” if the company started saving content for video calls, audio calls, or channels. So some users were alarmed when the latest update, which goes into effect on March 27th, seemed to quietly break this promise. One Discord user asked Ars to investigate and wondered, “Will Discord keep call recordings?”
According to a Discord spokesperson, the answer is no.
“There is no change to Discord’s position regarding how we store or record the content of our video or audio channels,” a Discord spokesperson told Ars. We realize that we have inadvertently caused some confusion among our users, and for the sake of clarity nothing has changed and we have reworded that wording to our privacy policy with some clarifications. inserted.”
Before users started complaining, the policy was updated to say Discord collects information about “any content you upload to the service.” For example, you can write messages and posts (including drafts), send voice messages, create custom emojis, make short recordings of your GoLive activities, and upload and share files through the Services. This includes profile information and information you provide when creating a server. ”
After a user raised concerns on Reddit, Discord staff said, “We understand that the language in the new privacy policy is broad and can be misunderstood,” and “we intend to fix it.” He seemed to be in a hurry to assuage his fears.
Since then, Discord has added the missing word word for word. If we change it in the future (for example, to facilitate content moderation), we will disclose it in advance. A Reddit user of his who identified himself as a Discord staffer told Reddit users that Discord does not “regularly” collect this type of content.
In the US and European Union, recording calls by people not participating in the call is illegal and usually requires consent. Discord updated its privacy policy not only to appease its users, but also to legally cover its tracks, but that doesn’t mean it’ll never happen. In response to user outrage, the new updated wording of the policy also specifies that Discord may collect some of this type of content in the future.
“We may build features that help users engage with audio and video content, such as making or sending short recordings,” Discord’s new policy states.
Discord doesn’t have a perfect track record when it comes to user privacy. Last year, Discord fined him €800,000 for privacy violations in the EU, including a Windows user not closing Voice his room when he clicked on the ‘X’ icon. It turns out that the EU unknowingly keeps these users logged into the voice room instead of letting them out. Voice Room continues to run in the background and may be sending private conversations that you didn’t know you could intercept.
