Reddit and Kick are the latest platforms to be added to Australia’s age-restricted social media list.
The law, which comes into effect on December 10, will fine platforms up to A$50 million for failing to block users under 16 from accessing their content. However, critics fear the required methods of age verification will compromise data protection for all Australian users.
Privacy and circumvention concerns
The impending ban has sparked considerable debate, particularly about how platforms will enforce the age restrictions. Critics have raised serious privacy concerns, arguing that the methods required to verify a user’s age could compromise the data of all Australians, not just children.
The law requires companies to implement age insurance technologies, which may involve biometric analysis or the collection of sensitive identity documents, creating new data security risks.
The government has stated that platforms do not need to verify the age of each user, but must take “reasonable steps” to detect and remove those under 16. But the ambiguity of what constitutes “reasonable steps” has left tech companies worried about compliance.
The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has indicated that this will be a “dynamic list”, with more services potentially added as technology develops.
In addition, there are still questions about the law’s effectiveness in a globalized digital world.
In other countries where platform-specific bans have been implemented, tech-savvy users often turn to tools like the best VPN to bypass restrictions. A VPN, or virtual private network, can mask a user’s location and IP address, making it difficult for platforms to enforce region-specific rules and age restrictions.
An evolving digital landscape
The inclusion of Reddit, a sprawling forum with diverse communities, and Kick, a popular live streaming service known for its gambling content, highlights the challenge facing regulators.
While some platforms such as Discord, Roblox and WhatsApp are currently banned, the eSafety Commissioner has made it clear that assessments are ongoing.
A spokesperson for Kick told Channel News Asia that while Australia is a small market, the company was founded there and will “continue to engage constructively with these new rules to support fair outcomes: protecting online security without compromising privacy.”
As the December 10 deadline approaches, the world is watching to see how Australia implements this unprecedented legislation. The government’s goal, according to Commissioner Inman Grant, is to give children “valuable time to learn and grow, free from the powerful, unseen forces of opaque algorithms and endless scrolling.” The long-term impact on youth safety, user privacy and the digital landscape remains to be seen.
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