Will the government listen to the report before launch date?

‘AGE VERIFICATION NOT READY’

Controversial age verification laws for social media set to go live in a matter of weeks have been recommended to be delayed until 10 June 2026 by the Senate, due to issues with implementation and a need for further consideration of the technology and challenges.

The delay would allow for “implementation issues” to be properly addressed and for an “education campaign” to be rolled out, “helping parents and young people prepare”.

The report from the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications highlighted that the technology “has shortcomings” and “there is no single best approach”.

It also noted “…deep reservations about the privacy implications of requiring Australians to provide sensitive personal data to search engine services or social media companies.” 

The Senate committee agreed that implementing a system that works across all platforms “poses significant technical and coordination challenges”.

For instance, trials have shown that age verification systems can be inaccurate for certain age groups, leading to a “grey zone” where errors are more likely.

“The committee recommends that the implementation of the Social Media Minimum Age obligation be delayed until 10 June 2026 to allow time for the issues in implementation and compliance to be properly considered and an education campaign for young people affected to be rolled out.”

In doing so, the government can “refine these systems” and “ensure compliance” with the “reasonable steps required by the legislation”.

This is in contrast to an earlier preliminary report from trials that suggested everything was ‘robust and ready’, with “no significant technological barriers preventing the deployment”.

Social media verification trial finds technology is ‘effective’ ahead of rollout
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I guess this wasn’t actually the case.

The trial was originally led by 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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Little has been revealed about exactly how the verification scheme will work, other than the fact the legwork of enforcement has been pushed on the companies themselves. They have warned some form of government-issues identification may be required.

Social media giants will comply with age checks, warn ID may be required
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This new report by the Senate to delay the rollout follows a pushback from the Opposition, with Melissa McIntosh MP voicing her opposition to the plan in parliament this week.

It also comes after a teenager is attempting to sue the Australian government to overturn the ban for under-16s, arguing the measure would make the internet more dangerous for young people and be widely circumvented anyway.

Noah Jones, 15, is a co-plaintiff in a High Court case against Communications Minister Anika Wells and eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant.

All parties suggest the process has been rushed with little-to-no communication on key issues, and a delay provides an “opportunity to better prepare users for the new rules”.

This will include a full-scale education campaign for young people, parents, and carers – allowing time to “develop the digital, social, and emotional skills needed to navigate social media safely” before accessing accounts.

The legislation, the Social Media Minimum Age Obligation, is scheduled to start on December 10, 2025 – so we shall await to see if the government follows the Senate committee’s recommendation.

Since first being presented, this Digital-ID-by-stealth push has been the subject of much backlash and heated discussion, with many asking if it is really about children at all.

As we know, it isn’t – and people are waking up to this reality.

THE PATH HERE

Internet behaviour in Australia will soon change if these recommendations are not adopted, whether it is in the form of data harvesting or protecting your data with VPNs. If you end up being a part of this agenda, or resisting it, the ‘old ways’ are slowly changing.

This is just the beginning, too.

It won’t stop at social media and will expand rapidly to engulf most of the internet – all of the places children ‘now go’ because they ‘aren’t on social media’.

We have already seen the initial social media list of banned platforms change and evolve.

Last month, popular message board platform Reddit, as well as live-streaming hub Kick, will both be added to the list of banned websites under controversial age verification laws.

The eSafety Commissioner has also confirmed Meta’s Threads will be included as well.

Reddit, Kick and Threads added to age verification restrictions
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YouTube will also be caught up in this, after it was revealed accounts will now be included as part of the laws, despite initially giving the platform an exemption.

YouTube no longer exempt under social media age verification scheme
RELATED LINK

Pending age verification programs will not just be limited to social media platforms, but will also include search engines and map apps.

How age verification laws will impact search engines and map apps
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Over time, the scope will likely continue to expand and broaden to other ‘harmful platforms’, and the eSafety Commissioner’s office is already eyeing them now.

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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We will have to wait and see if the government will take on board these recommendations, which I am doubtful for. This is something they have had in the works for years.

Even if it is delayed, this does not mean it is defeated either.

Think back to when national facial recognition legislation was blocked in 2019, ‘forced back to the drawing board’, before re-emerging and passing in 2025. Six years of scheming.

Committee rejects facial recognition legislation
2018 ARTICLE

Australia to launch national facial recognition database for driver’s licenses
2025 ARTICLE

They will find a way to get their vision implemented one way or another, no matter how long it takes, or which side of the false political two-party false paradigm carries it out.

Do you think the government will adopt these recommendations? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

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