Discord Turns On End-to-End Encryption for Calls by Default, Leaves 2026 Texts Unprotected
Updated
Updated · heise online · May 20
Discord Turns On End-to-End Encryption for Calls by Default, Leaves 2026 Texts Unprotected
16 articles · Updated · heise online · May 20
Discord said end-to-end encryption has been enabled by default for regular voice and video calls since March, so users no longer need to switch it on manually.
DAVE—the open-source protocol behind the rollout—grew out of tests that began in August 2023 and was expanded to work across phones, web browsers and consoles including PlayStation and Xbox.
External experts audited DAVE’s design and implementation, addressing the challenge of securing calls when multiple operating systems and device types join the same session.
Text messages will remain in plain text, with Discord saying many existing features were built around unencrypted messaging and would require major engineering work to redesign.
The move strengthens privacy for calls but leaves chat outside E2EE, underscoring a broader industry pattern after Instagram also dropped encrypted direct messages earlier this month.
Is Discord's new encryption a privacy shield for users or a liability shield for the company?
With encrypted calls hiding illegal content, how can Discord protect teens while also protecting their privacy?