The post Australia’s Search Engine Age Verification Rules Go Into Force appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.

New rules requiring search engines like Google to verify the age of logged-in users — and filter the content for everyone else — went live in Australia this week. The Australian eSafety Commissioner’s new rules came into force on Dec. 27, with a six-month timeframe for full implementation. They require search engines to verify users’ ages using methods including photo ID, face scanning, credit cards, digital ID, parental consent, AI, or third-party verification.  According to regulatory guidance, the highest-level safety filters must be applied by default to accounts suspected of being operated by someone under 18; companies must create a reporting mechanism to flag violators; and search results must be filtered for unsafe content such as pornography and graphic violence. Privacy and free speech campaigners hold significant concerns about the regulations. Jason Bassler, the co-founder of The Free Thought Project podcast, said in an X post on Monday that “starting 2 days ago, Australians are now required to upload their ID to use a search engine,” and speculated the country is the “beta test for a world where freedom and privacy quietly die… and it won’t stop there.” Source: Jason Bassler The requirements come hot on the heels of Australia restricting access to social media platforms for users under 16, a law that went into force on Dec. 10. Ireland pushing for social media verification in EU The Irish government has announced plans to push similar age verification measures for social media users across Europe when it assumes the EU Council’s presidency in July 2026.  Its proposed measures would also ban anonymous accounts in the EU and require ID to post on social media under the guise of cracking down on hate and disinformation online, according to Irish news site Extra.ie. Tánaiste, Ireland’s deputy prime minister, Simon Harris, told the…

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Filed under: News - @ December 30, 2025 3:16 am