ExplainerWhat is Discord, the chat app tied to leak of US classified documents on Ukraine war?
- A 21-year-old man was arrested in connection with the disclosure of secret military intelligence about the war in Ukraine
- Some of the leaks are believed to have started on Discord, an online hang-out for younger gamers who use the platform to communicate over text, voice or video chats
The investigation is unfolding as Discord makes an ambitious push to recruit more users and expand the way they use the versatile app.
Discord said it is cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation of the leak, which is believed to have started on the site. A Massachusetts Air National Guard member reportedly posted on Discord for years about guns, games, favourite memes and, according to some who chatted with him, closely guarded US secrets.
What is Discord?
Discord started in 2015 as a nerdy online hang-out for gamers and had some hiccups in its quest for mainstream success. Its growth accelerated during the Covid-19 pandemic as a forum for its mostly younger users to gossip or even help each other with homework.
“Every month, more than 150 million people come to Discord to hang out with family, friends and communities,” its co-founder and CEO, Jason Citron, said last month at a press event. “It’s become a place where they have fun and get things done together.”
Discord users skew young – about 38 per cent of its web users and nearly half of its Android app users are between the ages of 18 and 24, according to digital intelligence platform Similarweb. They are roughly 75 per cent male, the research group says.
Recently, the app has also pitched itself as a gateway to artificial intelligence tools such as Midjourney, which conjures up new imagery based on commands it’s given in a Discord chat.