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Australia is taking a further step toward making the internet safer for young users, building on some of the world’s strictest regulations regarding children’s online access. New regulations will extend to video games, pornography sites, and artificial intelligence chatbots.
ADVERTISEMENT Dubbed “Age Verified Content Codes,” the regulations will require users attempting to access inappropriate content to verify their age. This includes materials depicting graphic violence, pornography, self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders.
The new laws are scheduled to take effect this week.
According to the regulations, age verification will be mandatory for a wide range of online services, including purchases in app stores, video games rated for ages 18 and over, pornography sites, and search engines.
Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, stated that the regulations are specifically designed to prevent children from encountering harmful content. Grant noted that when children search for content related to suicide or self-harm, help lines will be the first resources presented.
“When a child searches for suicide or self-harm content, they will be directed to a help line first, rather than a cycle of harmful internet content,” Grant said.
Officials are describing the regulations as a “sensible measure.” Grant pointed out that children are already prohibited from entering bars, liquor stores, adult shops, or casinos in the real world, and similar protections should be applied in the online environment.
The new rules also encompass artificial intelligence chatbots capable of generating sexual or explicit content. Platforms with this capability will be required to verify that users are at least 18 years old, either upon login or when such content is requested.
The regulation comes after lawsuits in the United States alleging that some young people have attempted or died by suicide after following suggestions from AI chatbots.
Australia has emerged as a leading nation in regulating young people’s internet access in recent times. In December, the country became the first to ban children under 16 from creating social media accounts.
Under these regulations, platforms including Facebook, X, Threads, Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, Twitch, Reddit, and YouTube, owned by Google, are prohibited from allowing users under the age of 16 to create accounts. However, children can still view some content without logging in.
Following Australia’s actions, numerous European countries, including the United Kingdom, Portugal, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Finland, and Germany, have begun discussing similar regulations.
