This article has been updated since publication.
Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that his office has expanded its investigation into the online chat platform Discord following reports that the platform was used by the alleged assassin of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The move broadens Paxton’s ongoing probe under the Securing Children Online Through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act, which authorizes investigations into digital platforms accused of endangering minors.
Paxton said the expansion responds not only to Discord’s reported connection to the assassin but also to growing concerns that the platform exposes children to sexual exploitation and extremist content and contains addictive features designed to keep minors engaged.
“I’m standing shoulder to shoulder with the Trump Administration to root out and defeat nihilistic violent extremism in all its forms,” Paxton stated. “Discord has chosen to allow extremist content, sexual exploitation, and addiction to flourish on its platform. It has a legal obligation to prevent minors from being exposed to these evils, but instead its actions have contributed to the growing wave of nihilistic violence all across our nation.”
Paxton previously launched an investigation into Discord late last year alongside several other technology platforms, including Reddit, Instagram, and Character.AI. Those investigations have focused on whether such companies adequately protect minors from harmful or exploitative material.
As part of the newly expanded inquiry, the attorney general’s office issued an expanded Civil Investigative Demand (CID) to Discord. The CID seeks detailed information about how the company monitors and moderates extremist content, prevents online grooming and sexual exploitation, and addresses reports that its platform fosters addictive use among young users.
According to Paxton’s office, investigators will examine Discord’s role in “the radicalization, sexual exploitation, and addiction of minors,” including the social effects of online grooming rings and nihilistic extremist activity allegedly linked to acts of violence.
This latest action comes as state and federal officials intensify scrutiny of major social media platforms over their handling of child safety and extremist material.
Discord, which started as a communication app for gamers, now hosts millions of users across a variety of interest-based servers—some of which have faced criticism for hosting illegal or harmful content.
Paxton’s office did not specify how long the expanded investigation would last but said it represents a continuation of Texas’ broader efforts to hold online companies accountable for protecting minors.
A Discord spokesperson told Texas Scorecard that the company cannot comment on legal matters, but emphasized that “Discord is deeply committed to safety and we require all users to be at least 13 to use our platform. We use a combination of advanced technology and trained safety teams to proactively find and remove content that violates our policies. We maintain strong systems to prevent the spread of sexual exploitation and grooming on our platform and also work with other technology companies and safety organizations to improve online safety across the internet.”
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