New Jersey Sues Discord Over Child Safety Failures

New Jersey has become the first state in the U.S. to sue Discord, alleging the messaging platform misled parents about its safety features and failed to protect children from sexual and violent content and online predators. The lawsuit, led by Attorney General Matthew Platkin, claims Discord’s age-verification can be easily bypassed and its default settings expose minors to messages from strangers, with multiple criminal cases of grooming, sexual exploitation, and child abuse material cited. Discord, which has over 200 million users, denies the allegations, emphasizing its investments in safety tools and policies. Experts say moderation is key to reducing harm on such platforms. New Jersey seeks an injunction to stop deceptive practices, civil penalties, and for Discord to return profits earned in the state. The case underscores growing scrutiny of tech platforms over child safety.