Is your age about to block you from using Google? What you need to know about new verification rules
- Replies 20
If you’re used to hopping onto Google or Bing for a quick search—whether it’s to check the weather, find a recipe, or settle a friendly debate about who starred in that classic Aussie TV show—things are about to change.
By the end of this year, Australians will face a new hurdle: age verification when logging into search engines. Yes, you read that right—soon, you might need to prove you’re old enough just to use Google!
So, what’s behind this shake-up, and how will it affect everyday Aussies, especially those of us who remember the days when 'searching' meant flipping through the Yellow Pages? Let’s break down what’s happening, why it matters, and what you can expect.
Why the Change? The New Online Safety Code Explained
The driving force behind this change is a new online safety code, announced by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant. The code is designed to protect children from stumbling across harmful content—think online pornography, graphic violence, and self-harm material—when using search engines.
But the code doesn’t just target kids. It sets out a range of new rules for search engine providers like Google and Microsoft (the folks behind Bing), which will impact all users. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s in store.
And if a search engine slips up? They could face fines of up to $49.5 million. That’s a lot of bickies!
How Will Age Verification Work?
The code doesn’t spell out exactly how age verification will happen, but it’s likely to involve some combination of:
- Uploading a driver’s licence or passport
- Facial recognition technology
- Other digital age estimation tools
The government has already trialled some of these methods for its proposed under-16s social media ban, but concerns remain about their accuracy and privacy implications. For many of us, the idea of uploading personal documents or having our faces scanned just to use a search engine might feel a bit much.
What Does This Mean for Everyday Aussies?
For most, using Google is second nature. In fact, over 90% of Australians use Google, and not just for searching—think Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Drive. Many of us stay logged in across multiple devices for convenience, and families often share devices and accounts.
With the new rules, you might find yourself being asked to verify your age more often, especially if you’re logging in from a new device or after a period of inactivity. This could disrupt the seamless experience we’ve come to expect, and might even mean more frequent logouts or prompts to confirm who’s using the account.
There are also questions about how these changes will affect features like Google’s 'incognito mode' (used for private browsing) and AI-powered search results, such as those generated by Google’s Gemini AI. The code covers any feature integrated into the search engine, so expect these to be included.
What About Workarounds?
As with any online restriction, there are always ways people might try to get around the rules. Some might use VPNs to make it look like they’re outside Australia, while others (especially tech-savvy kids) could use adult accounts or devices to bypass filters.
The code does anticipate some of these tricks, requiring search engines to report violations and provide ways for users to flag inappropriate content. But as we all know, determined users often find a way!
Will This Actually Make Us Safer?
The big question is whether these changes will genuinely protect children without making life harder for everyone else. The government’s previous 'digital duty of care' proposal (now on hold) aimed to hold tech companies accountable for the content they serve up. This new code is a step in that direction, but it remains to be seen how smoothly it will work in practice—and whether it will strike the right balance between safety and convenience.
What About Privacy?
Many Australians are rightly concerned about privacy. Uploading ID documents or using facial recognition just to search the web raises questions about how our data will be stored and used. The eSafety Commissioner and tech companies will need to be transparent and careful to maintain public trust.
What do you think about these new age verification rules? Are you concerned about privacy, or do you think it’s a necessary step to protect young people online? Have you ever had to verify your age for a website before? Share your thoughts, experiences, and questions in the comments below!
By the end of this year, Australians will face a new hurdle: age verification when logging into search engines. Yes, you read that right—soon, you might need to prove you’re old enough just to use Google!
So, what’s behind this shake-up, and how will it affect everyday Aussies, especially those of us who remember the days when 'searching' meant flipping through the Yellow Pages? Let’s break down what’s happening, why it matters, and what you can expect.
Why the Change? The New Online Safety Code Explained
The driving force behind this change is a new online safety code, announced by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant. The code is designed to protect children from stumbling across harmful content—think online pornography, graphic violence, and self-harm material—when using search engines.
But the code doesn’t just target kids. It sets out a range of new rules for search engine providers like Google and Microsoft (the folks behind Bing), which will impact all users. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s in store.
Australians will soon need to verify their age when logging in to search engine accounts like Google or Bing, due to a new online safety code from the eSafety Commissioner. Image source: Firmbee / Unsplash.
- Age assurance measures: Search engines must verify the age of account holders. This could involve uploading a government-issued ID, facial recognition, or other methods still under consideration.
- Content filtering: At minimum, explicit and violent material must be filtered out of results for child accounts.
- Safer search results: Autocomplete suggestions that are sexually explicit or violent will be blocked, and images may be blurred by default.
- Crisis support: Searches related to self-harm or eating disorders will trigger prominent displays of helpline information.
- Parental controls: Providers must offer tools that let parents restrict or customise what their children can access.
- Reporting and oversight: Search engines must report to the eSafety Commissioner, invest in safety teams, and collaborate with community organisations.
And if a search engine slips up? They could face fines of up to $49.5 million. That’s a lot of bickies!
How Will Age Verification Work?
The code doesn’t spell out exactly how age verification will happen, but it’s likely to involve some combination of:
- Uploading a driver’s licence or passport
- Facial recognition technology
- Other digital age estimation tools
The government has already trialled some of these methods for its proposed under-16s social media ban, but concerns remain about their accuracy and privacy implications. For many of us, the idea of uploading personal documents or having our faces scanned just to use a search engine might feel a bit much.
What Does This Mean for Everyday Aussies?
For most, using Google is second nature. In fact, over 90% of Australians use Google, and not just for searching—think Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Drive. Many of us stay logged in across multiple devices for convenience, and families often share devices and accounts.
With the new rules, you might find yourself being asked to verify your age more often, especially if you’re logging in from a new device or after a period of inactivity. This could disrupt the seamless experience we’ve come to expect, and might even mean more frequent logouts or prompts to confirm who’s using the account.
There are also questions about how these changes will affect features like Google’s 'incognito mode' (used for private browsing) and AI-powered search results, such as those generated by Google’s Gemini AI. The code covers any feature integrated into the search engine, so expect these to be included.
What About Workarounds?
As with any online restriction, there are always ways people might try to get around the rules. Some might use VPNs to make it look like they’re outside Australia, while others (especially tech-savvy kids) could use adult accounts or devices to bypass filters.
The code does anticipate some of these tricks, requiring search engines to report violations and provide ways for users to flag inappropriate content. But as we all know, determined users often find a way!
Will This Actually Make Us Safer?
The big question is whether these changes will genuinely protect children without making life harder for everyone else. The government’s previous 'digital duty of care' proposal (now on hold) aimed to hold tech companies accountable for the content they serve up. This new code is a step in that direction, but it remains to be seen how smoothly it will work in practice—and whether it will strike the right balance between safety and convenience.
What About Privacy?
Many Australians are rightly concerned about privacy. Uploading ID documents or using facial recognition just to search the web raises questions about how our data will be stored and used. The eSafety Commissioner and tech companies will need to be transparent and careful to maintain public trust.
What do you think about these new age verification rules? Are you concerned about privacy, or do you think it’s a necessary step to protect young people online? Have you ever had to verify your age for a website before? Share your thoughts, experiences, and questions in the comments below!
.png){kind=icon}
