Discord to Review Take-Two Subpoenas Over GTA 6 Leaks
The platform will evaluate the legal scope of court-ordered requests for user data before complying with Take-Two Interactive's hunt for leakers.
Discord has signaled it will not automatically comply with court-ordered subpoenas from Take-Two Interactive aimed at identifying users involved in the Grand Theft Auto 6 leaks. The company stated it intends to review the legal validity and scope of the requests before handing over any user data.
Judge Andrew L. Carter Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted Take-Two's request to subpoena both Discord and Microsoft. The publisher is seeking identifying information—including IP addresses, phone numbers, and linked accounts—for users within specific Discord servers. This includes a server associated with YouTuber DarkViperAU, who has denied any wrongdoing. Ryan K. Rigney, Discord's Marketing Director, confirmed on X that the company had not yet been formally served but would evaluate the request upon receipt.
The Hunt for 'CyberLeek'
Take-Two is utilizing this legal strategy to unmask the identity behind the "CyberLeek" account, which was responsible for distributing early footage of the highly anticipated title. By leveraging DMCA infringement claims, the publisher is attempting to force platforms to reveal the real-world identities of those who uploaded or discussed the stolen content. While Discord is taking a cautious approach, Microsoft has expressed a willingness to cooperate, with Xbox CTO Scott Van Vliet stating the company is working closely with Take-Two and Rockstar Games.
Privacy vs. Copyright
The conflict underscores a growing tension between corporate copyright enforcement and digital privacy. Privacy advocates, including Reclaim The Net, have criticized Take-Two's approach as an overreach. The primary concern is that the subpoenas seek identifying information for all members of specific servers who participated in conversations, rather than limiting the scope to the individuals who actually uploaded the infringing material. This "dragnet" approach could potentially expose thousands of users who merely viewed or discussed the leaks without actively stealing data.
What's Next
Legal observers are now waiting to see if Discord will challenge the scope of the subpoenas in court or if it will provide a filtered set of data to Take-Two. While the judge has already granted the request, the specific boundaries of what Discord considers a "valid" scope remain undefined. It remains to be seen whether this legal pressure will successfully identify the source of the leaks or if the anonymity of the "CyberLeek" account will persist despite the court's intervention.