Google warns proposed Australian law could affect under-18s’ access to Gmail

Google told an Australian Senate hearing that a proposed online safety law could require age checks that might block under-18s from services including email. The bill would require online companies to address harmful content, with penalties of up to A$109 million; the government says broad rules are needed for a safe internet.

• Google policy head Rachel Lord said age checks tied to risks involving pornography could extend to everyday services such as email, messaging and private file storage.· 1 source
• The bill has passed Australia’s House of Representatives and still needs cross-party support in the Senate; companies that fail to address harmful content could face fines of up to A$109 million.· 1 source
• Meta, TikTok and Snap representatives also raised concerns about broad regulatory discretion and the possibility that platforms would remove too much content to avoid penalties.· 1 source