Canberra: The Australian government has introduced strict new regulations requiring users to prove they are over 18 before accessing adult content online, including pornography, R-rated video games and sexually explicit AI chatbots. The measures aim to better protect children from harmful digital material.
Under the new rules, platforms must introduce stronger age-verification systems such as facial recognition technology, digital IDs or credit card checks. Companies operating search engines, app stores, social media, gaming platforms, porn websites and AI systems will be required to take meaningful steps to ensure minors cannot access adult content.
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the changes were designed to create safeguards similar to those that exist in physical spaces. Inman Grant noted that children cannot enter bars, casinos or adult stores in the real world, and similar protections are needed online.
Research by the eSafety Commissioner found that one in three Australian children aged between 10 and 17 had already encountered sexual images or videos online. The study also revealed that more than 70 percent had been exposed to violent or harmful content, including material related to self-harm and suicide.
However, experts warn that the rules may face challenges. Rahat Masood from the University of New South Wales said tech-savvy young users may still bypass restrictions by using virtual private networks (VPNs) or by accessing content through alternative platforms.
Some adult websites have already responded to the changes. Platforms such as RedTube, YouPorn and Tube8, owned by Canadian company Aylo, reportedly blocked Australian users before the regulations took effect. The company said it would comply with the law but warned that strict verification could raise privacy risks and push users toward unregulated sites.
Technology ethicist Sabrina Caldwell said the rules may still help reduce accidental exposure to disturbing content, even if they are not completely effective.
Critics, however, argue that the policy could create privacy concerns by linking identity verification to sensitive browsing activity. Some experts suggest governments should instead require stronger parental control tools built directly into operating systems.
The new rules follow Australia’s earlier decision to restrict social media access for users under 16, marking one of the world’s most aggressive approaches to regulating children’s online safety.
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