Discord Unveils DAVE: A Next-Gen End-to-End Encryption Protocol for Enhanced User Privacy

In a pivotal action designed to strengthen user confidentiality, Discord has introduced a new end-to-end encryption protocol for its audio and video communications. This innovative technology, known as DAVE, was unveiled on Tuesday and aims to secure direct messages, group direct messaging, audio communication channels, and live broadcasting sessions for the platform's vast user base, which numbers around 200 million each month. The platform emphasized the ability for users to verify the activation of encryption and confirm the identity of other participants. This step is a continuation of Discord’s efforts that began last year, focusing on various encryption solutions and advances in communication technology.

Discord detailed the workings of its DAVE protocol in a recent blog post, outlining five core principles guiding its implementation: privacy, an open and effective methodology, broad platform compatibility, transparency, and scalability. According to the company, ongoing audio and video chats are entirely secure, with no unauthorized access, including from Discord itself. The encryption keys for media are refreshed every time a user exits a call, ensuring that past keys are forever inaccessible.

The protocol utilizes widely accepted sub-protocols and cryptographic algorithms, compatibility with Discord's mobile and desktop applications is already in place, while support for other clients is expected next year. When initiating a call, a verification code check is performed separately to confirm that all participants are genuine. Additionally, users have the option to create a long-lasting identity key pair for each of their devices. This would allow for easier verification across sessions, although it requires that all users involved in a call support the encryption protocol. If someone without support joins, the call will revert to a standard transport encryption method.

Despite incorporating this advanced encryption, Discord assures users that it does not sacrifice low latency for voice and video communication. Users will automatically transition to the new DAVE protocol versions after its rollout, with no interruptions to their service. This protocol is on track to emerge as the norm for all voice and video interactions in direct messages, group conversations, voice channels, and Go Live events.

Alongside the introduction of the DAVE protocol, Discord has released a whitepaper detailing its workings and the libraries utilized by its clients to apply it.