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Australia is quietly rolling out age checks for search engines like Google (www.abc.net.au)

submitted 2 weeks ago by throws_lemy@lemmy.nz to c/privacy@programming.dev

10 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Australians will soon be subjected to mandatory age checks across the internet landscape, in what has been described as a huge and unprecedented change.

Search engines are next in line for the same controversial age-assurance technology behind the teen social media ban, and other parts of the internet are likely to follow suit.

At the end of June, Australia quietly introduced rules forcing companies such as Google and Microsoft to check the ages of logged-in users, in an effort to limit children's access to harmful content such as pornography.

But experts have warned the move could compromise Australians' privacy online and may not do much to protect young people.

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[–] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 26 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Kids are smart. They’ll figure out SearXNG or Qwant faster than you can watch the vertical video that taught them the tricks.

[–] FundMECFS@quokk.au 9 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Honestly it’s kind of cool because these sort of restrictions are exactly what might give us a more privacy and techy new generation.

[–] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 7 points 2 weeks ago

When you build walls, people learn to climb. Dig a moat, and they learn to swim.

[–] LodeMike@lemmy.today 4 points 2 weeks ago

The problem is that not everyone will do so. For every techie there's 10 kool-aid drinkers.

[–] SpicyLizards@reddthat.com 23 points 2 weeks ago

It's literally another authoritarian step. They take what few inferred freedoms exist and slowly erode them - as they have since that bastard howard. It's already gone far too far.

[–] redsand@lemmy.dbzer0.com 16 points 2 weeks ago

Did Rupert Murdoch move back and purchase the government? WTF is this shit?

[–] onlinepersona@programming.dev 14 points 2 weeks ago

Beyond concerns about the accuracy of age-assurance technology and the VPN workaround, the new search engine rules will still allow users to access adult content simply by not logging in.

[–] SlartyBartFast@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 weeks ago

Age verification can

[–] 01011@monero.town 4 points 2 weeks ago

Children will always look for ways around authoritarian measures. I know I did.

[–] Pappabosley@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

The great firewall of Australia. Albanese must be getting some good tips from Xi. Noted also that the tech companies basically wrote the legislation and it's just letting them hoover up more personal data