Australia's Search Engine Age Verification Rules Go Into Force

New regulations in Australia, enforced by the eSafety Commissioner starting December 27th, now mandate that search engines like Google verify the age of logged-in users and filter content for everyone else, with a six-month full implementation window. Verification methods can include photo ID, face scanning, or credit cards, and the highest safety filters must be applied by default to users under 18. Privacy advocates have voiced strong concerns, comparing the move to a "beta test for a world where freedom and privacy quietly die." This follows Australia's recent restriction on social media access for users under 16. Separately, Ireland plans to push for similar social media verification and a ban on anonymous accounts across the EU when it takes the EU Council's presidency in July 2026. These global regulatory moves have drawn sharp criticism from the US, where officials claim foreign regulators are attempting to censor US platforms and undermine the First Amendment.

(Source：Cointelegraph)