The Verdict: The “Wild West” era of Discord development is over. As of the July 8, 2024 update, the Discord Developer Policy is a rigid legal framework. If you are scraping data for AI training, targeting users under 13, or bypassing Premium App pricing, your API access will be revoked. Compliance is no longer optional; it is the foundation of your survival.
Building on Discord is a privilege, not a right. The Developer Policy exists to protect the ecosystem from abuse, spam, and privacy violations. Whether you are a solo dev building a music bot or a VC-backed startup, this guide decodes the legal jargon into actionable rules of engagement.
The Monetization Mandate
If you plan to generate revenue, you must play by Discord’s economic rules. The platform wants you to make money, but they demand a level playing field.
- The Price Parity Rule: You cannot undercut the platform. If you sell a subscription via Discord Premium Apps, you are prohibited from offering the same perks on an external site (like Patreon or Ko-fi) for a lower price.
- The Payment Pipeline: All paid features or content unlocked within the client should ideally flow through Discord’s native payment system to ensure security and policy compliance.
User Protection: The “Ironclad” Rules
Your bot is a guest in the user’s digital home. You must behave like one. The policy strictly forbids “God Mode” behavior where developers force actions upon users.
- Zero-Touch Account Management: You cannot modify a user’s account (e.g., changing their avatar or bio) without explicit, granular permission.
- No Stealth Operations: Never trigger an action on a server or for a user without their prior consent. Transparency is mandatory.
- The Security Firewall: You are strictly prohibited from asking for passwords, MFA codes, or authentication tokens.
- The Anti-Spam Directive: Do not contact users without specific approval. Unsolicited DMs (Direct Messages) for marketing or “announcements” are the fastest way to get banned.
Data Sovereignty: The AI & Scraping Firewall
In the age of Large Language Models (LLMs), Discord has tightened its grip on data usage.
- No Scraping/Mining: You cannot use the API to “mine” or scrape bulk data.
- AI Training Restrictions: You are explicitly prohibited from using message content obtained via the API to train Machine Learning models (AI) without Discord’s written permission.
- Data Brokerage: You cannot sell, trade, or expose API data to advertising networks or data brokers.
- Purpose Limitation: You can only use data for the functionality you explicitly stated in your app description. If you collected data for a “Leaderboard,” you cannot use it for “Targeted Ads.”
The Compliance Matrix: Safe vs. Prohibited
| Action | Verdict | Consequence |
| Monetization | Use Premium Apps; maintain price parity. | Safe |
| Target Audience | Building apps for users < 13 years old. | BANNED |
| Engagement | Inflating server counts or faking bot usage stats. | BANNED |
| Data Usage | Using data to determine credit/social eligibility. | BANNED |
| Content | Promoting violence or extremism. | BANNED |
FAQ Vortex
Q: Can I build a bot specifically for children (Under 13)?
A: Absolutely not. The policy explicitly forbids creating apps targeting users under 13 years old. Discord is a 13+ platform (COPPA compliance), and your app must respect this age gate.
Q: Can I use Discord messages to train my own AI model?
A: No. The updated policy strictly prohibits using API-derived message content for Machine Learning or AI training purposes unless you have secured a specific license or written consent from Discord.
Q: What happens if I bypass the API Rate Limits?
A: Attempting to circumvent rate limits (e.g., using multiple tokens for the same bot to double throughput) is a violation. If you need more capacity, you must apply for a limit increase officially.
Q: Can I DM users who joined my support server?
A: Only if they explicitly opted in. Joining a server is not consent to receive Direct Messages. Unsolicited DMs are classified as spam.
Zenith CTA
The rules have changed, and ignorance is a liability. Review your data pipelines and monetization flows immediately. Audit your compliance today to ensure your empire survives tomorrow.