Discord Introduces DAVE Protocol for End-to-End Encryption in Audio and Video Calls

Discord Introduces DAVE Protocol for End-to-End Encryption in Audio and Video Calls

September 23, 2024 at 06:49AM

Discord has introduced a new end-to-end encryption protocol, DAVE, to secure audio and video calls in DMs, Group DMs, and voice channels. However, it’s important to note that messages on Discord will remain unencrypted and subject to content moderation. DAVE uses publicly auditable encryption methods, ensuring secure communication while prioritizing user safety.

Based on the meeting notes, the key takeaways are:

– Discord is implementing a new custom end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) protocol called DAVE for audio and video calls in DMs, Group DMs, voice channels, and Go Live streams.
– Despite this encryption, it’s important to note that messages on Discord will remain unencrypted and subject to the platform’s content moderation approach.
– DAVE has been publicly audited and reviewed by Trail of Bits, leveraging WebRTC encoded transforms and Message Layer Security (MLS) for encryption and group key exchange (GKE).
– The use of MLS enables users to join or leave a voice or video session without compromising encryption, and the existing transport encryption for audio and video between the client and the selective forwarding unit (SFU) is retained.

These takeaways provide a clear summary of the encryption update within Discord and its implications for user privacy and security.

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