Texas AG Sues Discord Over Alleged Child Safety Lapses and User Protections
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit on May 22, 2026, accusing Discord of inadequate child safety controls.
Why it matters: State actions against major platforms raise the stakes for compliance, design, and transparency in user protections. Legal, compliance, and product teams at tech companies face heightened scrutiny amid evolving statutory requirements.
- Texas AG’s suit filed May 22, 2026 alleges Discord exposes children to predators and misleads on safety.
- The complaint cites several Texas cases involving online grooming, abuse, and suicides with Discord links.
- Paxton seeks court-ordered default safety settings, age verification, and penalties up to $10,000 per DTPA violation.
- Discord says it uses advanced tech and human review for safety and is open to working with policymakers.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed suit against Discord, Inc. on May 22, 2026, alleging that the platform's design and moderation practices fail to adequately protect underage users, and that its public representations mislead parents about its safety protocols.
- The complaint details several incidents in Texas where minors were groomed or abused by adults they encountered on Discord, including examples involving sexual exploitation and self-harm allegedly connected to platform interactions.
- Texas alleges that Discord's default privacy settings, reliance on volunteer moderators, and limited age verification create a higher risk profile for children, contravening state law and the new SCOPE Act’s requirements for age verification.
- Paxton seeks a court order for Discord to implement maximum-strength safety defaults for new accounts, robust age verification, and a return of revenue allegedly obtained via unlawful practices, as well as civil penalties up to $10,000 for each violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA).
Paxton said the lawsuit aims to hold online platforms accountable and "empower parents to protect their children." The complaint references Discord's large teen user base and criticizes current transparency and moderation efforts.
In a statement, Discord said it "combines advanced technology and human-led investigations" to promote safety, provides privacy controls for teens and families, and remains "committed to collaborating with policymakers." Discord has previously responded to regulatory scrutiny by enhancing its reporting and moderation toolsets for both users and parents.
The lawsuit follows ongoing state efforts nationally to impose stricter controls on social media platforms regarding youth safety, transparency, and regulatory compliance.
By the numbers:
- $10,000 per violation — potential civil penalty under the Texas DTPA sought by Paxton
- May 22, 2026 — date suit was filed in Texas
- Millions — estimated number of Discord users worldwide, including many minors
Yes, but: No court has ruled on the allegations, and Discord maintains that it invests significantly in user safety and supports ongoing policy discussions.