Google told an Australian Senate inquiry a new online safety bill could force age checks and lock under-18s out of Gmail. Here is what parents should know.
Google says Australian teenagers could lose access to Gmail under a new online safety bill. Rachel Lord, YouTube's public policy manager, told a Senate inquiry the Digital Duty of Care bill may force Google to verify users' ages. That could block people under 18 from services like email.
The bill aims to protect children from pornography. It would cover services that carry a foreseeable risk of exposing children to explicit content. Those companies would have to check users' ages. The bill has no specific exemption for email or messaging. It has passed the lower house. Fines reach up to $109.2 million, and the rules would start 12 months after it becomes law.
Senator Sarah Henderson raised concerns about possible mass surveillance by services like Gmail and Google Drive. Lord said Google is unhappy that privacy considerations are left out of the bill. The government says tech companies should reduce harm before it happens, not after. Communications Minister Anika Wells compared the standards to those for food and toys. The bill could also let Australians switch off social media algorithms.
A Senate committee is due to report its findings by November 20. It is not yet clear how age checks would work, or whether Gmail would actually block teens. The bill also has not become law. Parents of teens may still see more requests to prove age, which could mean sharing personal details.
Nothing changes yet, but parents of Australian teens should watch for age checks on email and apps if the bill becomes law.
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