Next month, Discord is going to start requiring age verification. The backlash from gamers everywhere has been predictable and justified. I guess their company name checks out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-s6HuzZRNg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-s6HuzZRNg I've had a few people reach out to me because of my prior vulnerability disclosures and criticism of encrypted messaging apps. (Thanks, Toggart.) Unfortunately, asking a…

Soatok is a blog or publication authored by Soatok Dhole, a security researcher and privacy advocate. Readers can explore articles covering topics such as cryptography, privacy-enhancing technologies, and digital rights. Additionally, they can learn about cybersecurity threats, encryption protocols, and strategies for protecting online privacy.

Dhole Moments

Discord's upcoming age verification requirement has sparked backlash, but finding a privacy-respecting alternative is challenging. Signal is currently the only messaging app with proper end-to-end encryption, but it's centralized and lacks Discord's feature set. The author argues that a true Discord replacement needs to be free software, self-hostable, federated, and decentralized—none of which exist today. Building such a platform requires combining technologies like Tor Onion Services, Key Transparency, and MLS (Messaging Layer Security), while simultaneously fighting age verification laws through political organizing.

On Discord Alternatives

Discord is Different Things to Different People