What is Discord? Messaging platform popular with gamers part of Charlie Kirk assassination investigation

Discord the widely used messaging platform popular with the gaming region is at the center of the study of Tyler Robinson the suspected assassin of Charlie Kirk Robinson was arrested last week on suspicion of shooting and killing Kirk the -year-old conservative activist while he was speaking on the campus of Utah Valley University Robinson's alleged use of the app has come to the attention of personnel and become crucial in the probe of Kirk's assassination CHARLIE KIRK'S ALLEGED SHOOTER NOT COOPERATING WITH ADMINISTRATION UTAH GOV COX SAYSDiscord is a messaging platform with more than million monthly users who interact through text voice and video It is especially popular with gamers and allows them to form communities around various topics interests or gaming groups according to the company While mostly known for its association with the gaming population Discord is used by a wide variety of people around other interest areas as well According to USA In contemporary times communication on Discord happens on servers which are similar to groups on Meta's Facebook or Instagram These are invite-only spaces for your friends or society places where you can connect collaborate and enjoy meaningful conversations together according to the company Tyler Robinson the -year-old suspected of murdering Kirk allegedly discussed details of the crime with a roommate on the Discord app DEATH PENALTY LOOMS FOR CHARLIE KIRK S ACCUSED KILLER BUT LEGAL BAR IS HIGH AS TRUMP COX MOUNT PRESSUREDuring a press briefing Friday morning Utah Gov Spencer Cox disclosed Robinson sent messages on Discord about stowing and retrieving a rifle from a drop point The messages shown to administrators also refer to engraving bullets and a mention of the scope and the rifle being unique according to an affidavit The New York Times broadcasted Saturday that an acquaintance of Robinson appeared to recognize him from surveillance images issued of the suspected killer the day after the shooting tagging his username on Discord and writing wya meaning Where you at Robinson joked back that his doppelganger was trying to get him in trouble He later also quipped that he would like a share of the reward if someone else on the Discord chat turned him in A Discord spokesman stated Fox News Digital it has not uncovered evidence the suspect promoted violence on the platform During our assessment Discord identified an account belonging to the suspect We have not exposed or received any evidence that the suspect planned this affair on Discord or promoted violence on Discord The messages referenced in reporting about weapon retrieval and planning details were not Discord messages and likely took place on a phone-number based messaging platform We continue to work closely with the FBI and local personnel and will continue to deliver prompt responses to their requests for assistance CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION SUSPECT AWAITS CHARGES AS UTAH RESIDENTS DESCRIBE ALLEGED KILLER AS VERY QUIET Particular critics have disclosed Discord's private channels can be hotbeds for extreme rhetoric that can't be monitored and it also doesn't employ enough protections for younger users The perpetrator of the racist mass shooting in Buffalo N Y openly discussed his plans to carry out the attack on Discord Discord ultimately deleted the server he used and expressed devastation at his use of its platform to plan the massacre Thomas Matthew Crooks the attempted assassin of President Donald Trump last year had an account on the Discord app Discord deactivated his account afterward saying it was rarely used there was no evidence he used it to plan the attack and the company strongly condemns violence New Jersey sued Discord in April alleging the company was engaging in deceptive business practices that don't protect its youngest users In Discord helped foil a likely mass shooting at a synagogue after a -year-old allegedly made threats on the app According to ABC News Discord broadcasted the disturbing messages to bureaucrats leading to an arrest before the attack was carried out Discord says it does not allow hateful conduct or speech on its platforms We don t allow hateful conduct or the use of hate speech while on Discord This includes hate symbols and denial of historical mass atrocities We define hate speech as any expression that degrades vilifies or dehumanizes individuals incites hostility towards specific groups or promotes harm based on protected characteristics its official initiative states Discord has a minimum age of to use its services in the U S and preponderance other countries Certain countries have set higher age minimums to use the platform