Teens face potential Gmail ban under U.S. safety bill as Google raises concerns over age verification requirements
Australian teenagers could lose access to Gmail and other services under a new federal online safety bill, Google has informed a Senate inquiry.
YouTube’s public policy manager Rachel Lord stated the Digital Duty of Care bill may compel Google to verify users’ ages, potentially blocking under-18s from services like email.
The bill, aiming to shield children from pornography, would apply to services with foreseeable risks of exposing children to explicit content, requiring companies to implement age verification.
It cleared the lower house and carries penalties up to $109.2 million, with a 12-month commencement period post-enactment.
Tech concerns
The legislation lacks specific exemptions for email or messaging, mirroring the penalty for compliance breaches.
Senator Sarah Henderson said she had concerns of potential mass surveillance by services like Gmail and Google Drive.
Rachel Lord indicated Google’s discontent with the exclusion of privacy considerations from the bill.
Despite criticisms, the government argues for pre-emptive harm reduction by tech companies rather than post-damage interventions.
Communications Minister Anika Wells compared the bill’s standards with those for food and toys, aiming at higher digital safety standards.
The legislation could also allow Australians to disable social media algorithms.
The committee is expected to present its findings by November 20.
