GoKawiilGoogle warns Australia's Digital Duty of Care bill could force Gmail age checks for under-18s
At a Senate hearing on November 9, Google's YouTube policy head Rachel Lord said Australia's proposed Digital Duty of Care legislation could require age verification for email, messaging and private file storage to limit minors' exposure to pornography. The bill has cleared the House of Representatives but still needs Senate approval, and carries potential penalties of up to AU$109.2 million for non-compliant companies. Meta, TikTok and Snap also objected, warning broad regulatory discretion could push platforms to over-remove content.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The dispute suggests that laws aimed at protecting children online can have ripple effects reaching basic services like email, raising questions about how far 'safety by design' rules should extend into private communications. Tech companies framing this as 'intrusive monitoring' may be positioning themselves to resist stricter obligations, while regulators likely see it as necessary to close gaps left by existing social media bans. The outcome could set a precedent for how far other countries go in regulating minors' access to everyday digital tools.
- Google says Australia's Digital Duty of Care bill could require age verification for Gmail and other private communication tools.
- The legislation has passed the House but awaits Senate approval, with penalties up to AU$109.2 million for non-compliance.
- Meta, TikTok and Snap have also raised concerns that broad regulatory powers could lead to excessive content removal.
Source: techspot.com — Rob Thubron, 2026-11-09
Published there as: “Australia's internet restrictions could go even further, with Google warning of Gmail bans for under-18s”
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