TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin filed a lawsuit Thursday against Discord, Inc., accusing the messaging platform of engaging in deceptive practices that left children vulnerable to online predators and explicit content while misleading parents about the effectiveness of its safety features.
The complaint, filed in Superior Court in Essex County, alleges that Discord violated the state’s Consumer Fraud Act by misrepresenting its safety protocols and allowing design features that facilitated contact between children and unknown users, including those with predatory intent.
“Discord markets itself as a safe space for children, despite being fully aware that the application’s misleading safety settings and lax oversight has made it a prime hunting ground for online predators,” said Attorney General Platkin.
According to the complaint, the multiyear investigation found that Discord’s “Safe Direct Messaging” settings gave a false sense of security. The company claimed to scan and delete explicit messages but failed to detect or block much of the harmful content. These settings defaulted to “My friends are nice,” which scanned only messages from non-friends, leaving children exposed to unmonitored content from new online connections.
The lawsuit also points to Discord’s failure to implement meaningful age verification, despite a stated minimum age of 13. Children were reportedly able to sign up and use the app with minimal barriers, exposing them to sexual exploitation, abuse material, and violent content.
AG cites unsafe defaults, design flaws in lawsuit
The app’s structure—allowing users to send direct messages simply by sharing a common server, and the ease of creating multiple accounts—further contributed to the risk. According to the lawsuit, children often received explicit images, harmful messages, and solicitations despite Discord’s public assurances about user safety.
Key Points
- NJ Attorney General Matthew Platkin is suing Discord for consumer fraud, citing unsafe design and deceptive safety claims.
- The lawsuit claims Discord’s default settings allowed predators to target children and spread explicit content.
- The state seeks an injunction, civil penalties, and the return of profits earned through the alleged misconduct in New Jersey.
The lawsuit is part of a broader online safety campaign by Platkin’s office, which has recently taken legal action against TikTok and Meta for similar concerns about children’s digital safety.
