- Australia’s social media ban will begin on Wednesday, November 10
- Some social media platforms will begin removing accounts this week
- Experts warn of significant compromises to privacy and security
Australia’s landmark social media ban will be rolled out next week. From December 10, popular social media platforms – including Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube – will be required to take “reasonable steps” to prevent under-16s from using their services. Failure to do so could result in fines of up to $49.5 million AUD (approximately $32 million USD).
Communications Minister Anika Wells said the legislation follows a “moral imperative” to protect children online. “We stand firmly on the side of the parents and not on the platforms,” Wells told the BBC.
However, the privacy risks of mandatory age checks raise alarm among experts. “Age verification systems are surveillance systems that threaten everyone’s privacy and anonymity. But the Australian government recently decided to ignore these dangers,” the US-based civil society organization EFF has argued.
Details regarding the specific age verification methods to be used are still emerging. However, it seems that some are trying to get ahead of the problem and introduce measures early.
Meta announced that it will begin deactivating existing accounts this week. It said it would notify affected accounts to “give them an opportunity to save their contacts and memories” before the deadline.
The company has argued that using app store-level verification methods would have been more effective than platform-specific measures. While an initial study by The Guardian indicates its video selfie platform is working successfully for some, findings from the Australian government’s Age Assurance Technology Trial suggest facial age estimation systems may be less effective for Indigenous Australians and those closer to 16.
TikTok and Snap have said they would use behavioral tracking technologies to predict a user’s age. “Where we identify someone who says they are 25 but the behavior suggests they are under 16, from December 10 we will have those accounts disabled,” TikTok’s public policy officer for Australia, Ella Woods-Joyce, told Pakinomist.
Snapchat has since started implementing age verification checks ahead of the December 10th introduction date. To verify the user’s age, the platform offers two options: ConnectID, which validates identity via existing bank data, or k-ID, which uses public identification and facial scanning technology.
During the initial two-year review, the methods used may change. “This is not a cure, it’s a treatment plan, and treatment plans will always evolve as we can adapt and manage damage and see what works and what doesn’t,” Wells told the BBC.
Importance of personal information protection for age verification
When each platform uses different tools to verify the age of users, it is difficult to assess the overall impact on people’s privacy.
While some tools are likely to be more privacy-preserving than others, almost all involve the collection and analysis of sensitive data, from official documents to biometric or behavioral analysis.
Cyber security expert Stacey Edmonds has warned that mass collection of this data could lead to an increase in fraud. “What’s the number one thing scammers and predators want from us?” Our data and personal details … and we’re giving them away,” Edmonds told ABC.
Dr. Catherine Page Jeffery, a lecturer in media and communications at the University of Sydney, echoed those concerns in a statement: “Young people and parents doubt it will work and worry about privacy and data security.”
Solutions may endanger children’s safety
As with similar restrictions seen in the UK and several US states – most recently Missouri – there is also likely to be an increase in demand for VPNs across Australia in the coming week. However, this rush to bypass restrictions can lead users into dangerous territory.
“Many people will search for a free VPN and that will download a ton of other spam software to your computer or phone, creating additional risks of data breaches,” Daswin De Silva, professor of AI and analytics at La Trobe University, told ABC News.
Given the risks associated with using many free VPNs, it’s important to use a reputable brand. Here at TechRadar, we recommend NordVPN and Surfshark as the best VPN available.
“It’s going to look a bit messy on the way through,” Minister Wells said. “Great reforms always do.” However, the Internet is particularly messy, and disrupting one element almost always causes unintended consequences elsewhere.
