Australia is set to introduce a significant change to how its citizens access major search engines, with mandatory age verification for Google and Microsoft users coming into effect by the end of 2025. Under a newly registered online safety code, Australians will be required to confirm their age when signing into search engine accounts, a move designed to shield minors from harmful online content such as pornography and violent material.
The new regulations, developed in collaboration with technology companies and overseen by the eSafety Commissioner, mandate that search engines implement “age assurance” technologies for all logged-in users. If a user is determined to be under 18, the search engines must automatically apply the strictest safety settings, including activating Safe Search by default to filter out explicit and high-impact violent content. These requirements are part of a broader effort to align online safety measures across platforms, following similar initiatives targeting social media access for minors.
To comply, Google and Microsoft will have several methods at their disposal for verifying user ages. These include photo ID checks, facial scanning for age estimation, credit card verification, digital IDs, parental vouching, AI-based age inference, or relying on third-party verification services. While these measures are intended to protect children, privacy advocates and some experts have raised concerns about the potential impact on user privacy and the effectiveness of such controls, noting that determined users may still find ways around the system, such as browsing without logging in or using VPNs.
Failure to comply with the new rules could result in hefty fines for search engine providers, with penalties reaching up to $49.5 million per breach. The introduction of age checks for search engines represents a dramatic policy shift in Australia’s approach to online safety, and has sparked debate about the balance between protecting young users and preserving privacy and digital freedoms for all Australians.
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(Source: RNZ | SBS News)
