Photo: SMI
The online world, and how we use it, will soon radically shift.
BEYOND SOCIAL MEDIA
Controversial age assurance laws are set to go live in Australia in December of this year, and the restrictions look like they will expand beyond social media platforms solely.
From 27 December 2025, it has been revealed all “internet search engine services” will also be required to comply with Schedule 3 – Internet Search Engine Services Online Safety Code (Class 1C and Class 2 Material), registered under the Online Safety Act 2021.
The Code, registered by the eSafety Commissioner on 27 June 2025 pursuant to Section 140 of the eSafety Act, mandates that search engine providers take “reasonable steps to limit children’s exposure to harmful online content”.
As two of the largest search engine providers, it is anticipated that Google and Microsoft will play a central role in shaping how the industry responds to these requirements.
However, even engines like DuckDuckGo and Brave will be subject to these laws as well. We won’t cover them in this article, as their response strategy is not as well-known at present.
The Code, enforced by eSafety Commissioner, requires all internet search engine services to implement the following age assurance measures where “technologically feasible” and “reasonably practicable”:
- Apply appropriate age assurance measures for account holders.
- Apply tools and/or settings — such as ‘Safe Search’ functionality — at the highest safety level by default for account holders who age assurance systems indicate are likely to be Australian children.
At a minimum, these tools must filter out online pornography and high-impact violence material detected in search results.
While Google and Microsoft have yet to issue official statements as to how they will address the Code, both companies have been actively exploring and trialling a range of age assurance technologies in international markets. These include:
- Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) cryptography: An open-source library of cryptography tools that allow people to prove that something about them, such as their age, is true without exchanging any other data.
- Machine learning-based age estimation: Using large language models (LLMs) to estimate an account holder’s age based on browsing behaviour.
- Biometric verification and government ID: Requesting account holders submit a selfie or upload a government-issued ID if their activity suggests they may be under 18.
- Google Wallet integration: Exploring the use of digital ID cards stored in the Google Wallet to verify age.
Because Google also utilises other applications like Google Maps, it is anticipated that these services will also require verification steps if a centralised process is adopted.
This feasibly means your location services will directly be linked to whatever is adopted, such as a centralised identification token, which has vast implications for surveillance and privacy.
Despite the magnitude of this part of the shift specifically, it has mostly gone unnoticed, in stark contrast to the political and media fanfare surrounding the teen social media ban.
Newsflash: It won’t just be social media platforms that will require this.
While neither company has committed to a specific solution for age verification in Australia, it is expected that they will leverage established technologies and ‘expertise’ to develop compliant, scalable systems that meet the requirements of the Code.
We are just a few months away from the end of how we all use the internet on a fundamentally level, and not for the better either.
The Orwellian dystopia is emerging before our very eyes.
ONLINE FREEDOM THREATENED
Despite the ‘misinformation bill’ being shut down in parliament, the government succeeded with their age assurance agenda, all driven by the old propaganda tool, children.
‘Oh, won’t somebody please think of the children!’
But children aren’t only able to access social media, they are able to access the entire internet. So, naturally, these laws will continue to expand and broaden as time passes.
Age checks for even more sectors of the internet have already been hinted by eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, in her recent address to the National Press Club.
Last month, it was revealed YouTube accounts will now be included as part of the controversial laws, despite initially giving the platform an exemption.
YouTube no longer exempt under social media age verification scheme
RELATED LINK
We can anticipate even more changes may happen as the launch date approaches, and once it is up-and-running in Australian society.
All up, the regulator will register nine codes this year, governing the conduct of internet service companies in Australia.
Privacy researchers have warned the move could compromise the online privacy of Australia and may not do much to protect young people.
“I have not seen anything like this anywhere else in the world,” said Lisa Given, Professor of Information Sciences from RMIT, who specialises in age-assurance technology.
“As people learn about the implications of this, we will likely see people stepping up and saying, ‘Wait a minute, why wasn’t I told that this was going to happen?'”
Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA) said given the potential privacy impact for millions of Australians, the new rules may not do enough to keep children safer online.
“One of the other concerns that we have is that there’s no evidence as to the efficacy of the age-assurance technical controls,” EFA chair John Pane said.
“Based on the separate age-assurance technology trial, some of those results have been pretty disheartening.”
The trial is being led by the Age Check Certification Scheme – a company based in the United Kingdom that specialises in testing and certifying identity verification systems.
Who is running the trials for Australia’s social media laws?
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Earlier this month, a preliminary report from trials suggested everything is ‘robust and ready’ for rollout, with “ no significant technological barriers preventing the deployment”.
Social media verification trial finds technology is ‘effective’ ahead of rollout
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This is a worldwide shift that has already begun in the United Kingdom, is floated for the United States, and is a hallmark of authoritarian regimes like China.
How long before a ‘social credit system’ is also rolled out to accompany these laws?
China’s ‘Social Credit System’ Will Soon Reach Australia
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Very interesting times ahead, ladies and gentlemen.
The internet is about to shift forever, and those who cherish online anonymity and privacy will be forced to ride the wave or leave the platforms they have used for years.
What will you be doing when the laws go live in December?
Be sure to leave a comment down below!
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Well, this is just an excuse to monitor and surveille all use on the net. They want to know what you are reading/watching, what web site and who you are and if it does not comply to the current narrative, whatever that may be, then you will be flagged for misinformation, hate speech, racism or terrorism and like, in the UK now, be arrested and imprisoned for your opinion. This is all part of the Agenda 2030 and the crack down on the population. The e-commission needs to be disbanded and that women sent back to where she came from. Welcome to North Korea in Australia folks!
True, Jan