As Google works to meet new statutory requirements on its platforms, Australian users of YouTube and Google Play will soon be required to prove their age in order to watch adult content.
In response to the federal government’s Online Safety (Restricted Access Systems) Declaration 2022, the web giant will roll out the new age assurance step over the following month.
The declaration, which is part of the Online Safety Act, compels platforms to take efforts to minimize the exposure of people under the age of 18 to pornography and other age-inappropriate content.
Users may be prompted to upload an image of their government ID or credit card as part of the new age assurance step to verify their age.
“When attempting to watch mature video on YouTube or download content from Google Play, certain Australian users may be required to show extra evidence of age,” Yorke added.
“If our computers cannot determine if a visitor is above the age of 18, we will request that they present a valid ID or payment card to validate their age.”
According to its help page, Google considers driver’s licences, proof of age cards, and passports to be legitimate forms of identification in Australia.
Google will keep ID papers until a user’s “date of birth is correctly confirmed,” at which point they will be erased.
The ID might also be used to “enhance [its] verification services for Google goods and guard against fraud and misuse.”