At the end of June, Australia quietly introduced rules forcing search engine companies such as Google and Microsoft to check the ages of logged-in users
We're watching the death of an open, anonymous internet, and the gradual takeover of information online by the state — under the guise of protecting children. Andrew Starr / @ajsta : This doesn't seem to have got much attention, but Australia is introducing age verification for search engines. — Seems related to the warnings by @cameronwilson.bsky.social on the teen social media ban being age verification by stealth. — Weirdly, incognito mode will still work - for now.. … @flaky.blue : BTW, this is not limited to Bluesky. Discord is experimenting with age verification in the UK and Australia. Rate Your Music locked down their forums those not logged out, and I think this was the tipping point. Some Fediverse instances have responded by either blocking UK citizens or shutting down. Mike Stabile / @mikestabile : We tried to tell people it wouldn't stop with sex or porn or whatever bogeyman was going to be used to end online anonymity. — Australia has declared that Google will now have to verify all users for age/identity. — mashable.com/article/micr... Vin / @vintangled : UK: age verification for any adult content platform — Australia: hold my beer — AGE VERIFICATION FOR THE ENTIRE INTERNET [embedded post] Mastodon: Deborah Pickett / @futzle@old.mermaid.town : Good news, the Dan Murphy's Age Verification Protocol is an acceptable method of proving you are over 18: “Relying on a third party that has already checked the user's age” — https://www.abc.net.au/... Ash K / @ash@bne.social : There's a lot of pressures on the future viability of the web as a platform, but showing ID to be even able to use it was not on my bingo card https://www.abc.net.au/... Fox / @fox@cytag.nl : Don't use your face to verify yourself for a search engine. Use SearXNG instances to find your data anonymously. — https://www.abc.net.au/... SearXNG instances can be found here: https://searx.space/ Or host your own search engine: https://github.com/... #privacy #google #searxng WearyBonnie / @3TomatoesShort@disabled.social : Australia is quietly introducing ‘unprecedented’ age checks for search engines like Google — https://www.abc.net.au/... > Just as Australians are adjusting to the idea of having their ages checked for social media, age assurance rules are being applied to search engines and many other corners of the internet. X: @anaussievoice : 🚨🚨🚨 ‘To verify users’ ages, search engines could use methods such as credit card checks, photo ID, facial age estimation, digital ID, or parental vouching - though companies haven't confirmed which systems they'll adopt.' Welcome to Australia, the land of censorship... [image] @sep_australia : Proposed techniques for age estimation of social media users include facial analysis or tracking individuals' online metadata to determine if a user is under the age of 16 #socialmediaban #auspol #Auspol2025 https://www.wsws.org/... LinkedIn: Kathryn Backholer : Australia's e-safety commissioner has announced new measures to make online environments safer for children by requiring search engines to implement age-assurance technologies. … Forums: Hacker News : Australia is introducing age checks for search engines like Google r/auslaw : Australia is quietly introducing ‘unprecedented’ age checks for search engines like Google r/worldnews : Australia is quietly introducing ‘unprecedented’ age checks for search engines like Google r/aus : Australia is quietly introducing ‘unprecedented’ age checks for search engines like Google r/LaborPartyofAustralia : Australia is quietly introducing 'unprecedented' age checks for search engines like Google r/aussie : Australia is quietly introducing ‘unprecedented’ age checks for search engines like Google r/AustralianPolitics : Australia is quietly introducing ‘unprecedented’ age checks for search engines like Google