Google warns Australian online safety bill could force Gmail age blocks

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Google warns on Gmail age blocks

Highlights

Google warned Australian senators that the Digital Duty of Care bill could require age verification for core Gmail and Google Drive features, raising privacy concerns.
The bill allows penalties up to A$109 million for non-compliance and faces Senate review after clearing the House of Representatives.
Meta, TikTok, and Snap cautioned the bill could chill speech and prompt platforms to over-moderate content to avoid regulatory risks.

Senate scrutiny of age-check requirements

As reported by Reuters, Google's Australia and New Zealand policy chief for YouTube told a Senate hearing on Monday that a section of the bill aimed at preventing children from seeing pornography could force the company to verify users' ages and restrict access to everyday services including messaging, email and private file storage.

Rachel Lord said the requirement could lead to age assurance measures affecting private communications tools, raising the prospect of intrusive monitoring in email, messaging and stored files. The legislation has already passed Australia's House of Representatives, but it still needs cross-party backing in the Senate to become law.

Under the Digital Duty of Care bill, internet companies must show they are taking steps to remove harmful content or face penalties of up to A$109 million. The hearing is continuing as lawmakers examine how broadly the rules could apply across online services.

Industry warns of wider compliance and speech risks

Meta, TikTok and Snap raised similar concerns at the hearing, saying the proposed framework could chill online communications by giving regulators broad discretion to judge what content or conduct is harmful while replacing some existing mandatory industry codes.

Online companies and free speech advocates argue the measure gives regulators too much latitude, increasing pressure on platforms to remove content or tighten controls to avoid large fines. Several participants said the uncertainty could push companies to over-moderate material as a defensive response.

The Australian government says a broad rule set is necessary to ensure a safer internet. For the technology sector, the debate is becoming a test of whether child-safety rules can be applied without extending compliance obligations into core communication services used in daily life.

In our earlier article on Malaysia’s Menarabena construction platform launch, we covered how Menara Asia set up a B2B marketplace linking contractors with building-material suppliers while centralising certification, documentation and compliance information. We also noted the role of CIDB-linked cooperation in streamlining approvals and product certification, with the platform positioned to improve supply-chain efficiency without replacing existing regulatory requirements.

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