The Senate has just voted YES to our inquiry into the social media age ban and search engine age verification codes!
This isn’t just about kids – it’s a national age verification and identification system masquerading as being about online safety for children.
The age ban will force EVERY Australian to hand over personal data to access social media. The verification codes will mean the same for search engines. Everybody will go through age-checking to make this work. Our inquiry will examine these massive privacy implications.
Instead of the promised digital duty of care, the Government is focusing on bans and codes that will encourage platforms to vacuum up your private information. Our inquiry will explore better alternatives including how the Children’s Safety Code and a duty of care could work!
The inquiry will soon begin accepting submissions so watch this space for more details.
Julie Inman Grant, is Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, who is leading the implementation of new laws to ban children under 16 from creating social media accounts. Inman Grant has provided updates and statements regarding the upcoming ban, including her recommendation to include YouTube in the ban and her call for social media companies to take greater responsibility for online safety, according to sources like the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and The Conversation.
Julie Inman Grant has refused to release any research supporting her quest for a band on social media.
Well done Senator Shoebridge looking out for all Australians.
