r/australian • u/Jaydoos447 • 2d ago
Opinion Age verification: the sequel nobody asked for
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u/sapperbloggs 2d ago
Just get a VPN and carry on with your life.
I kind of like the fact that my podcast ads now all have Kiwi accents and are selling me shit that doesn't exist in Australia.
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u/Jaydoos447 2d ago
eSafety Karen is on the path to genuinely ban VPN for general consumer use.
Don't be surprised
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u/sapperbloggs 2d ago
That's not actually possible.
VPNs are illegal in China, yet millions of people in China use VPNs daily for casual personal use. If the Chinese can't figure it out, our government won't be able to either.
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u/NopaConcentrate467 1d ago
On an iPhone or IPad it is , the latest apple update has automatically made you age verify to use websites that eSafety commissioner requires age verification on; through any app via:
Content & Privacy Restrictions → App Store, Media, Web & Games → Web Content
My VPN and Onion browsers would not work on a certain website (nothing illegal - just needed to comply with the current recommendation about doing a certain thing 23 times a month).
I’d imagine it’s coming for androids as well.
Anyone know if you can still buy picture or people magazines?
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u/Low_Shop9155 1d ago
They force the ISP to DC anyone loading on an IP they know of as a commercial VPN. that can be done.
Completely eradicating VPN isn't possible
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u/Long-Machine8795 1d ago
It’s not impossible, look at how zscaler does it. If our government goes completely insane they could enforce all internet connections to require root certificate inspection which will block all VPNs
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u/HG_Redditington 2d ago
I worked for a US company in China. Interestingly we had an "illegal" encrypted VPN. Also interestingly, paying Chinese authorities for telecommunications infrastructure was exempt from the foreign anti corruption legislation.
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u/Neo_Athrotaxis 2d ago edited 2d ago
Oh sweet summer child. China tolerates VPNs for various reasons, at device level they have absolutely the know how to both track and block.
Assange and Snowden were writing about this 15 years ago.
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u/blackpawed 1d ago
The disruption to business would be insane. Lot of big legal and accounting firms would crucify the government. Not to mention Banks.
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u/mindsnare 2d ago
Not possible.
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u/Jaydoos447 2d ago
Not possible for infrastructure, sure.
Definitely possible to ban general consumer use though.
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u/opackersgo 2d ago
Disagree. If you apparently know more than me as an almost 20 year experienced network engineer, I’d love you for to explain how.
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u/mindsnare 2d ago
General consumers have shown that they are far too dumb to be on the internet anyway so honestly couldn't give a shit.
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u/Alternative-Soil2576 2d ago
How do you they’re on a path to genuinely ban VPN for general consumer use? There’s been no plan of that and why would they even do it?
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u/Clear_Skye_ 2d ago edited 1d ago
Good luck to her
Edit: I was being sarcastic lol
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u/Jaydoos447 2d ago
Yeah.
People said that before she basically banned the internet without verification, too.
Wonder where all the "IT'LL ONLY BE KIDS" people are now?
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u/Inner_Agency_5680 2d ago
technically impossible, so won't be a problem
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u/Jaydoos447 2d ago
So is banning the internet without ID verification, but shes basically managed to do that for the people who aren't tech-minded.
They literally made the law and told the tech companies to figure it out.
What stops them doing the same?
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u/Dramatic-Ganache-386 2d ago
I’m not entirely convinced. This lot was able to jam through legislation which places the onus on the private companies to pull this shit on us. Who’s to say they won’t do it again but with private use VPNs like some other countries have done? Don’t get me wrong, I hate this but I also wouldn’t be coloured shocked if Inman Grant announced it was on the horizon.
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u/DefamedPrawn 2d ago
They can certainly ban commercial VPN services. They can simply make it illegal to offer their services here in Australia, and most of the companies will comply, because it would just be too much hassle not to.
In that event, you could still rent yourself a Virtual Private Server, or shell account somewhere, and set up your own VPN though. I don't know how they could practically stop people doing that.
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u/TaintOfDestiny 2d ago
eKaren wants online platforms to ban connections from VPNs. That’s part of what the lawsuit is about.
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u/sapperbloggs 2d ago
That doesn't make sense.
Take Reddit for example. I use a VPN based Cyprus and I generally connect via NZ because it has the fastest connection. As far as Reddit is concerned, I'm a kiwi, not an Australian, and Australia's laws don't apply to me. Even if Reddit can see I'm using a VPN, I could be from literally anywhere in the world.
Australia can tell Reddit how to behave in Australia. They can't tell Reddit how to behave overseas.
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u/opackersgo 2d ago
And even if for some reason they ban IP addresses owned by known VPN companies you can just buy a VPS and build your own.
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u/TaintOfDestiny 2d ago
eKaren doesn’t care. She took X/Twitter to court for not taking down the Sydney church stabbing footage globally. They backed down once, but if the government is looking at some sweet $50m fines, you can bet they’ll tweak the laws to get around the HCA.
Sure, you can hide that you’re from Australia, but you can’t hide that fact that you’re using a VPN. If it costs them money, they’ll just block VPNs like streaming services already do. Based on what they know about you, they’d be able to detect most Australian users without an IP anyway. (Time of use, latency, language patterns, subs you’re a member of, etc…)
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u/SeaAccomplished441 1d ago
yes you can. if you use a VPS and set up your own VPN on it, it's not going to be a "known" VPN.
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u/rubeshina 2d ago
Do you think reddit genuinely believe that though? That they actually don't know or are incapable of knowing?
Or do they just.. not really care?
During the age assurance trials it was raised and multiple different operators I believe demonstrated and explained capabilities when it comes to solving this issue. It's trivially easy to detect VPN usage, and then you just need to ensure you are taking "reasonable steps" to see which of those users are likely to be from Australia.
They don't have to do it perfectly. But there are sooo many different sources of information attached to users that they can look at, just self contained even if you aren't tracked or traced to any other source.
Like you log in during Australian timezones and you comment on Australian subs. That's already a huge signal that any kind of algorithm/detection they use will look at. Just that alone is a pretty strong indicator, is that enough on it's own? Maybe, maybe not? But they will be expected to show they are enforcing things like this as time goes on.
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u/itsthatguy95 2d ago
Doesn’t work on consoles or steam for gaming
But hey, anything but punishing “parents” for not parenting I guess 🤷🏼
Like I thought docs was still a thing, even with a name change
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u/Neo_Athrotaxis 2d ago
We shouldn't have to 'just get a VPN'.
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u/sapperbloggs 2d ago
Okay then...
Your alternative options are to
give up and give your credentials to prove your age
stop using the internet, or
continue yelling into the void and hope that things magically change
Your choice.
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u/Neo_Athrotaxis 2d ago
Or, hear me out, don't vote for a government that enables E-Karen.
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u/sapperbloggs 2d ago
Which one is that?
It sure as shit isnt either major party, and of youre voting for parties like PHON because getting a VPN is too hard, you deserve what happens next if they actually win power.
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u/Y34rZer0 1d ago
No matter who wins the next election they aren't going to roll back these laws are they?
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u/Morridon04 2d ago
Why are you so keen to rollover against genuinely bad policy even if it’s not impactful.
The whole e-safety commission is a ridiculous entity and the powers the give the commissioner are getting increasingly dystopian.
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u/sapperbloggs 2d ago
Because there are far bigger issues, and this one has a very simple workaround.
If this is the key matter you're voting on, you probably need to go outside a bit more.
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u/Sharpiesniffingshark 2d ago
This age verification goes deeper than a mere IP address on some sites. I’ve been permanently blocked from logging into my Substack and watching sensitive media on Twitter without age verification. I’m techy, but not enough to go further than installing a VPN, and I am not happy, Jan.
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u/BiliousGreen 1d ago
All my ads are from Singapore currently. It's interesting getting to see other countries advertising.
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u/NAFOfromOz 1d ago
Am I the only one annoyed that the Australian eSafety Commissioner is American?
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u/Fickle_Charge720 1d ago
No not at all but more annoying that she was an unelected official she can piss right off
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u/humanbeing101010 1d ago
No, you are not alone. I don't take kindly to fucking Americans pushing their moral stances onto me.
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u/thpineapples 6h ago
No, I am also annoyed now that I have learnt this. Americans really shouldn't be in positions representing the values of the Australian people. Some streets are only one-way.
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u/Agent_Jay_42 1d ago
Come now mate, all you have to do is sneeze inside a Harvey Norman and you'll catch an instant credit card from GE.
It's actually not a bad loop, apply online, use the card number for age verification then cancel the card.
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u/pop-1988 1d ago
GE Money sold that business to Latitude, and left Australia
Before GE Money, the Harvey Norman credit was provided by an Australian company, Custom Credit. They went into receivership and sold their customers to GE Money3
u/pSiSurreal 1d ago
I was up in Darwin working full time in the Army and wanted to get a TV on one of those interst free cards. Got knocked back due to not enough credit history... So i got the tv on my normal credit card...
True story. Still have no idea why I didn't qualify haha.
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u/mindsnare 2d ago
I'm so old that all of my accounts are over 16 and 18 and I've not had to verify for anything yet
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u/titebeewhole 2d ago
For me it's more about not wanting accounts for shit at all.... I don't want to verify my identity with some shithole that's gonna have a data breach and sell my identity
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u/Low_Shop9155 1d ago
The thing that no one seems to want to talk about is that freedom is an innate human comfort and there need not be any justification or debate.
Freedom is an enjoyable comfort as is sleeping in a comfortable bed.
Instead we all argue about the justifications and where we can compromise when the real question is, "How much discomfort are you willing to accept?"...
At this rate, we'll all be sleeping on the floor, because some loon said it was good for your back. Cold showers in the winter etc..
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u/bbkinged 1d ago
I considered that point when i built a site that required people to provide with data, i built it so that their ID can be verified and then the code forces the admin to purge it, not just delete it, purge it so there is nothing to recover. I felt it was the saftest way for average verification
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u/Ok_Rope_9332 1d ago
My account is from 2008 and I still can't look at adult games without doing it. Not that I will. The thing people aren't talking enough about is how absolutely ludicrous and punitive the fines the AUS govt wants to hand out for age verification breaches actually are. It's like 49 million $ per breach or some bullshit. You could literally rape someone and get less of a punishment in this country. It's to force companies to comply in overboard fashion, so much so that places like CivitAI have just decided to ban the entire country (which IMO should be the standard, the backlash against AUS Govt would be so insane if every company did that, they'd have to repeal it within days/weeks).
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u/robotslovetea 2d ago
YouTube asked me to verify my account that is over 20 years old
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u/ConstanceClaire 1d ago
You've had your account longer than they've had youtube! I'm in the same boat.
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u/BeratnasGilf2 2d ago
I only got one for substack. Are teenagers really into substack and is there articles there that might be harmful for them? Seemed really weird to me. Stopped using it anyway.
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u/Ceigey 2d ago
They could start reading about something dodgy like starting a SaaS business or B2B sales.
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u/GoatCheese62 1d ago
For now... Look at the UK with iOS as it stands, they'll keep pushing this.
I've personally done everything I can to avoid doing this too. Steam has caught me out, but I was able to buy a CD key which avoided this (for now).
But what if you need to make an account or access something new? You will get impacted eventually! It's a matter of time.
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u/MoistenedBeef 1d ago
The one that i've found most infurtiating is Steam. I can't even access the store page for games like Cyberpunk 2077 because I need to attach a credit card to my account. Debit card isn't good enough, it has to be credit card. I don't even have a credit card.
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u/ryttu3k 1d ago
It's the inconsistency that drives me up the wall. I own nine Resident Evil games already, but I can't even look at the store page for RE Requiem without giving them my card? Really? At least they fixed the issue where you couldn't look at the store page for games you already owned.
Most frustrating part is that I do have one of the debit cards that works (CommBank) and tried adding it on. Great, it works, I can access the Requiem store page now. Removed the card. Lost access again. They're not trying to get you to verify your age, they just want your card on file.
(Not to mention they're actually not following the age verification laws, which requires at least two options.)
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u/Detergency 1d ago
Banks have protections against fraudulent transactions so I dont see how having the card on steam is different to any of the other places it can get used or stored. I also have no idea why valve would want to start making fraudulent transactions.
If they got hacked, id much prefer my credit/debit card gets stolen then some other private information or photos of me or some weird shit like that.
Valve didnt want to do it, and they also dont want to be dealing with private information etc from its users, so they implemented a very easy to engage with system that relies on Australian institutions (banks) to confirm the age of the person (much better than some random 3rd party service).
The card option is by far the easiest and least intrusive form of age verification Ive encountered. Far and away the best option of the ones Ive encountered.
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u/Deya_The_Fateless 1d ago
This drives me crazy too! I cant look at or purchase Resident Evil without a "verified card" but I can veiw and purchase Silent Hill...
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u/potato_analyst 1d ago
Don't be mad at steam, be mad at the people who forced this onto us. First it was social media now it's everything!
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u/Y34rZer0 1d ago
I use a debit card that worked fine
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u/the_dad_splainer 1d ago
Debit card does not work with Apple.
My son is disabled.
He does not have a credit card, license, passport, ID. He lives in supported accommodation and rarely leaves the house, has no need for any of these things.
He’s 32 and can’t pass the ID requirements.
Great way to discriminate against people with a disability.
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u/MoistenedBeef 1d ago
Apparently debit cards from certain banks do work. I might have to just a open a new account with one of them
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u/Str1pes 2d ago
Im no longer considered an adult on steam because I dont have a credit card. Its going to be happy 18th, have some debt to get ya going kids.
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u/spaceman620 1d ago
My Steam account is old enough to drink yet I need to verify my age.
I also don't have a credit card, so I've just resolved myself to sailing the high seas again.
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u/Abominationoftime 1d ago
Luckly theres a handful of banks that debit cards work. I know the big 2 are wesspac and commback
Just open one of them up for free and use it as your steam/online card
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u/Y34rZer0 1d ago
I literally used a Westpac debit card today to verify on Steam lol
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u/Abominationoftime 1d ago
i also used one of the debit cards that work. i just put on like $10 on it so it dosnt shut down and whenever i want to buy a game i just move the money from my main bank to the new card
is it annoying, a little. but its not the end of the world
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u/The-Flying-Sloth 1d ago
My steam account is 13 years old. I wanted to buy Cyberpunk 2077. Can't access the store page due to age verification, need to provide a credit card. I don't have a credit card. Had to get Gemini to write some JavaScript code to add the game to my cart and check out so that I could buy the damn thing. This whole age verification thing is dumb, if I were a teenage boy it wouldn't stop me from accessing adult content, only push me to sites that don't comply which are also likely to be sites with more extreme content.....
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u/aldkGoodAussieName 1d ago
Exactly.
Teens have been scooting round those rules for a long time.
Literally change DNS server (5 minutes to google instructions and impliment) and set up VPN (Download opera browser or similar and dont even need to set up VPN) and that will bypass what ever restrictions needed.
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u/Deya_The_Fateless 1d ago
My Steam account is 12 years old, I cant veiw or purchase Reaident Evil because of the "mature content flags". But I can veiw and purchase Silent Hill despite its "mature content" flags...
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u/IceApprehensive8077 1d ago
Just had the same issue with the same game 3 days ago, funnily enough I was able to get my friend to buy it and play it through family share but not buy it myself, these new laws are ridiculous
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u/Sufficient_Topic1589 1d ago
My account has a badge on it saying it was created in June 2005. My account is older than the age it needs to verify to buy those age limited games 🙃. They’ve programmed the verification so badly anyone with a visa debit card is automatically rejected. I have to see if one of my travel Mastercards will work as apparently you have a better chance with Mastercards. Also, steam keys work. If you find a cheaper game on a third party site, get it there instead. Steam is cheaper for a lot of games at the moment though. The craziest thing is I want to get telltale walking dead definitive edition and I can’t access it but I have the regular edition already on my steam account 🙄
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u/RecipeSpecialist2745 1d ago
How do you buy the games on Steam in the first place?
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u/ColdDelicious1735 1d ago
So for steam you need a full proper credit card. A visa or Mastercard debit card does not work.
I use a visa debit for my purchases
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u/RecipeSpecialist2745 1d ago
Yeah, I have a Steam account, had it for ten years+, and I use Visa. Never had a problem.
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u/Awkward_salad 1d ago
There are a bunch of verified debit cards that provide age verification for steam, mostly mastercard from the big 4.
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u/BlahajWithBenefits 1d ago
The block is clientside?
Whacky
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u/The-Flying-Sloth 1d ago
Block is server side, but it doesn't block using JavaScript manually to add the package IDs to the cart. There is no age check when manually adding packages to the cart.
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u/IceApprehensive8077 1d ago
I don't understand how this bs is even legal, I'm on the disability so I'm 90% sure I can't even get a credit card, so what I'm meant to just never be able to buy any of the games I want again?
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u/Shot-Habit-5705 1d ago
How old is your everyday bank card? You should probably upgrade. Even if you have a debit card, if you have either Mastercard or VISA in Australia it is eligible for all online purchases and functions like a credit card, just using your money.
I verified my accounts through email. It seriously took like 2 minutes. It’s an inconvenience, but I don’t understand how people are encountering so many issues.
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u/DrywallDetective 1d ago
Steam replied to me and said it must be a credit card. Debit won't work.
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u/The-Flying-Sloth 1d ago
Tried two different MasterCard debit cards from two different banks, didn't work.
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u/IntroductionFluffy97 1d ago
I have same issue as op
This is not normal Stop with them verification
Kids will find ways to get thru
Leave us alone eith internet restrictions
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u/satanzhand 2d ago
But how will the tech gods go to the next stage of data mining and ad selling if they don't have confirmed ID details.... Think of the billionaires you selfish bastard ...
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u/Low_Shop9155 2d ago
she really needs to fk off back to the usa
reddit been asking me to verify my age
they can fk off too
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u/Abominationoftime 1d ago
Twitter asked me aswell when the age restrictionrolled out. Did a face scan and it worked..... for about a week. Now it just gets stuck in a loop of the face scan not working.
So I just use a vpn now
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u/Chaosrealm69 1d ago
My GF is trying to verify her age but the verification methods are not working because it's not accepting her Visa debit card from the NAB nor is it accepting her 18+ card or her license. Now it says she can try a passport that she doesn't have.
If the age verification system is refusing to accept valid ID's then what use is it?
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u/RichardPapensVersion 1d ago
Also there is no way in hell I’m uploading my private id and credit card to some website for a third party company to verify it, only for a hacker to come and steal all my information. Great work guys. Let’s stay esafe by uploading our drivers licenses to reddit (I don’t mean your gf, I mean the government). How did the government think that was a smart idea.
Especially when our generation grew up with cyber safety and cyber security being drilled into us. Now they want us to upload everything online just to prove we’re the age we say we are smh
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u/No_Category_9888 1d ago
This. The esafety commission needs to look at all the breaches going on, that would be actually useful.
Implement some penalties and data retention policies, like gpdr, and mandatory cybersec standards and auditing.
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u/__Addie__ 1d ago
The age verification was never about e-safety. We refused the digital ID project before so they found another way. Cheeky monkeys 🙈
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u/Ok_Rope_9332 1d ago
AUS made sure to make their passport renewals the most expensive in the world too.
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u/Yikidee 1d ago
Steam? This is happening with my eldest daughter too.
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u/DrywallDetective 1d ago
I messaged steam about this and they replied it is because of the new esafety guidelines. They said their only option for age verification with the guidelines at this point is an Australian credit card. Debit cards won't work.
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u/slashgrin 6h ago
If the age verification system is refusing to accept valid ID's then what use is it?
Come now, it's a huge help to criminal organisations committing identify fraud, because there will now be even more mass leaks of all that sensitive personal information that is used for so-called "proof of identity". That's pretty useful!
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u/Emeraldnickel08 1d ago
This one is Steam's fault. In fact, the eSafety commission is already hounding them about the lack of verification options. You can blame the commission for requiring age verification to buy R18+ games, you can blame the classifications board for making those games R18+, but you can blame nobody but Valve for the credit card-specific requirement.
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u/big_cock_lach 1d ago
It’s not just Valve that requires credit cards, there’s different verification processes with pros/cons that companies can choose between.
The one Steam is using relies on existing verification from the banks. They already have highly secure age verification in many of their products (not just credit cards, but all credit cards have this) which is a lot better from a privacy and a cost perspective. The downside of this approach is that it results in negative outcomes for customers who don’t already use these products.
The alternative is that you go via an age verification company. From a privacy front, these companies are significantly worse, and they also charge fees per verification as well. It’s far more convenient for customers when this approach is used, and for now many don’t seem to realise the privacy implications so they don’t have any issues with it.
From my understanding, most companies will opt to verify via banking products initially if possible due to the privacy and cost benefits. If that doesn’t work though, most will automatically reroute to an age verification company to avoid inconveniencing their customers. Some, like Steam, refuse to do this though due to privacy concerns and potentially due to costs as well.
Personally, regardless of their intentions (I’m sure they’re not just doing so due to privacy), I do prefer the banking only approach but a part of that is because it hasn’t inconvenienced me at all. I would rather have the ability to avoid using an age verification company where possible, the privacy incursions there are pretty extreme.
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u/toasterboy1324 1d ago
oh i hate the credit card verifications; who has credit cards nowadays? not to mention you can't mess with it at well as other forms of verification
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u/Uniquorn2077 1d ago
When the government wants to legislate the right to use sock puppets to “combat misinformation and disinformation”, it’s pretty clear what the ultimate agenda is when taken in the context of all privacy, media, online, and assembly or protest legislation released over the last few years.
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u/BiliousGreen 1d ago
It's all about narrative control and the ability to manufacture consent. The Internet democratized media and gave people access to alternative viewpoints, which made it harder for governments to manufacture consent for their agenda. They want to be able to stifle inconvenient voices that offer different perspectives to the official line.
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u/chudward_ 1d ago
Why do we have a WEF affiliated American telling Australians what they can and can't see on the internet?
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u/Global_Branch9563 1d ago
It makes economic sense for these companies, just to cut off service to Australians. No Australians, no more lawsuits real simple maths. The moment costs outweigh revenue for these companies and several lawsuits later, say goodbye to Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and so on.
Great way to lose an election.
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u/ChinoGambino 1d ago
They don't have the guts to do it, the revenue while small in the big picture is still billions. In the case of YT denying service is also connected to Google accounts, if Google ever pulled service from a country it would reveal just how dependant they are on them. When it went down for an entire night it was extremely damaging.
None of these companies want scrutiny, Facebook implements the media bargaining code despite it being an absurd shake down. In fact Meta wants identity verification to collect better data and to have another path to rent seek on the web. It also kills off smaller operators who cannot afford the compliance hurdle.
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u/potato_analyst 1d ago
Google has huge presence in Australia. Google maps is run out of Sydney. They are fighting evey fucking day to win over customers for their solutions.
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u/Zed1088 1d ago
Don't tempt me with a good time, baring YouTube the world would be a far better place without Meta's garbage.
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u/ped009 1d ago
To be honest not having access to most of those sites would monumentally improve people's lives. I quit Facebook a few months ago and it's been the best decision I've made in a long time
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u/ImReadingYourShit 1d ago edited 23h ago
Quit in 2021 and have in that time:
- Emotionally stabilised
- Figured out what I want to do
- Gotten my shit together so massively that anyone from my ‘old life’ is in genuine disbelief when they see me/learn about what I’m up to now
- Got a cert IV and pursuing further study
- Got a solid job and increased my income 50% over 2 years
- Am generally happier
- Got a huge amount of my personal time back.Fuck Facebook and social media (inb4 “you’re on reddit” comments. Check the account age. Made this account because I’ve been flat out and needed an outlet for a brief period. Not my first rodeo. Account will be deleted or functionally abandoned within a couple of months tops)
Anyone whinging about government trying to address brainrot in youth has no sense of this issue and no concept of its consequences on the nation’s future health.
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u/Croix_De_Fer 1d ago
And yet they don’t…. They have huge revenues and can easily dodge tax. Better financially to throw a bit of money at some lawyers to kick up a fuss and threaten to leave, all while making bank in the background. It’s not until there are actual penalties that they’ll either change or leave.
Meta was hit with a €1.2b fine in Europe. That’s on top of €800m in 2024. They aren’t leaving Europe That’s a rounding error for Meta. Shrug shoulders and move on.
$25USD fine in New Mexico last week. Oh well. Share price up 3% this month.2
u/chikken 1d ago edited 1d ago
A change in government doesn’t necessarily result in a new eSafety commissioner - it is an independent office. She can’t be removed - only by the Governor General and only for misconduct. An act of parliament (law) would be required to remove the whole office.
Julie Grant (current eSafety commissioner) has said she will step down in 2027.
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u/Global_Branch9563 1d ago
Ah, that's not true. The eSafety Commission was formed by an Act of Parliament, Online Safety Act 2021. It can only be dissolved by an Act of Parliament. The Governor Generals role in all this is to ceremonial sign-off which turns a bill into official law. The Governor General has no legal or constitutional authority to decide on their own to close a Government agency or strike down a law.
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u/CarlosPeeNes 1d ago
Basically all of Europe and the UK, has done, or is doing the same thing.
It's not at all exclusive to Australia. We're just the testing ground, as is historically the norm when a mechanism is introduced.
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u/DCCXVIII 2d ago
Esafety Karen would like to know your location (and age, face, bank details, marital status and whether you've ever purchased a Labubu).
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u/Whosyouruser 2d ago
Don't forget your private proclivities, foibles and fancies.
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u/CharlieKiloAU 2d ago
Proclivities? You know, I mean let there be a thousand blossoms bloom as far as I'm concerned, you know—but I ain't spending any time on it because in the meantime, every three months, a person is torn to pieces by a crocodile in North Queensland.
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u/rubeshina 2d ago
Maybe don't use the for profit tracking and advertising platforms if you don't want your information collected and commodified idk.
Somehow E-Karen is the big bad and not the corporate suits like Zuck who build and monetised these platforms and integrated them into every aspect of our lives with no regard for the consequences.
Like for some reason only the US government and a handful of corporate tycoons are allowed to use the global mass surveillance and propaganda network?
If the Australian government try and assert any authority over how they operate in our country, that's bad.
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u/GranitePigeon 1d ago
Rule one of cybersecurity is you are always at risk. There is always a way in, and there is always someone who can find it.
For profit or not data leaks are a matter of time. Putting your identity online is fundamentally a shit idea.
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u/Toowoombaloompa 2d ago
You do know that the legislation specifically prohibits any data gathered being used for any purpose other than age verification?
https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2024A00127/asmade/text
Section 63F
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u/unfurL 2d ago
Yes but what if the data is “leaked”, now it’s in the hands of whoever…
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u/james_harushi 1d ago
As we all know these companies have a perfect track record of following the law /S
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u/verbmegoinghere 2d ago
Don't try to explain reason or the law with these idiots.
The changes have done absolutely nothing to them or their interactions on the net. They don't care about kids getting bullied or worse indoctrinated with bad actors disinformation and propaganda.
Could the law and its implementation been better, for sure but its not the end of the world no matter how much griping these, usually, right wing crazies, shit on about
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u/InsidePension2952 2d ago
The second image was a jump scare an a half
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u/AbbreviationsIll8607 1d ago
The more they tell me it's not about censorship, the more I believe it's about censorship. Albo, Princess Anika and Chrissie are all drunk on power.
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u/Sudden_Ambition964 1d ago
had youtube family kids account cant use youtube to watch videos - uses it as a guest - bombarded with gambling ads.... yes for the children.... cancelled youtube subscription and use other players that dont show ads. Try to do the right thing but it always comes back around to piracy being the better experience.
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u/subconscious-subvers 1d ago
Yeap... Kids can't use accounts, so instead they get served unfiltered slop. Logged out content is the absolute bottom of the barrel on YouTube.
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u/tsscaramel 2d ago
My biggest issue is that this is easily the first step from safety to censorship, it would not surprise me if in a few years the government begins deciding who can and can’t post online purely based on opinions.
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u/Appropriate_Star3012 1d ago
I'm 44 and have age to verify everything. That's 3d FUCKING scans of my face and shit
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u/FailZealousideal1221 1d ago
The point is that she's American, I imagine she's a CIA plant... Australia and New Zealand are often used as pilot countries for new policies that the UK and North America then adopt, they test things by using us, the world gets to say "good one Australia" or "you're progressive idiots Australia" iron out the bugs and figure out the right way to sell it to the population as a whole, force companies to introduce policies and blame Australia, and then suddenly it's implemented all across the west
EDIT: I JUST LOOKED UP HER WIKI PAGE AND SHE WAS OFFERED A ROLE WITH THE CIA WHEN SHE GOT OUT OF UNI 😂 and claims that she didn't take it, no, but I'm sure she kept in touch through her work as a privacy consultant
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u/adammw111 2d ago
Should have been attestation instead of verification. Or just not at all since parents should be the ones to parent.
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u/Luckisalsoaskill 2d ago
When I was a lad we had to use our imagination to jerk off. You kids have had it too good for too long
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u/BeratnasGilf2 2d ago
I think I've still got a bunch of old porn mags in a box somewhere. I should donate them to the nearest patch of suburban of bushland and give back to the community that gave so much to me when I was a teenager.
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u/Jaded-Breadfruit4019 2d ago
Yeah I gave up with internet browsers a while ago. It’s reddit porn for me all the way now
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u/Singh_ghuman 2d ago
Worst part is, she is an American.