Discord Unveils End-to-End Encryption Protocol for Audio and Video Calls
In a move to prioritize user privacy and security, Discord has rolled out its new end-to-end encryption protocol, dubbed DAVE, for its estimated 200 million monthly users. The protocol aims to provide encryption for direct messages (DMs), Group DMs, voice channels, and Go Live streams, ensuring that no outsiders, including Discord itself, can access the contents of ongoing audio and video conversations.
According to Discord, the DAVE protocol is designed to follow five key goals: privacy, open and effective protocol, broad platform support, transparency, and scalability. The protocol leverages industry-standard sub-protocols and cryptographic algorithms, and is already supported by Discord’s mobile and desktop clients. Support for the remaining clients will be rolled out next year.
When a user starts a voice or video call, an out-of-band comparison of the verification code is done to ensure that the other participant in the call is legitimate. Users can also choose to have a persistent identity key pair for each device they use Discord on, allowing others to store their persistent verification without repeating the process each time. However, every user must support the end-to-end encryption protocol for it to work, and if a non-supporting member is present, the call is transferred over to a transport-only encryption.
Discord has emphasized that despite the encryption, low latency voice and video is not compromised. Following the rollout of DAVE, users will be automatically migrated to the new protocol versions without any disruption. The protocol will become the default for voice and video in DMs, Group DMs, voice channels, and Go Live streams.
To further demonstrate its commitment to transparency and security, Discord has published its whitepaper and the libraries its clients use to implement the DAVE protocol. This development builds upon the experimentation Discord kicked off last year, showcasing its dedication to continuous improvement and innovation in audio and video call technologies.
