Melbourne: In a bold and unprecedented move, Australia is on the brink of becoming the first nation in the world to impose a blanket ban on social media access for children under the age of 16. Backed by the federal government, a large-scale trial has successfully demonstrated that age verification technologies can be implemented with both efficiency and privacy, laying the groundwork for landmark legislation.
The trial was conducted under the supervision of the UK-based non-profit Age Check Certification Scheme (ACCS), whose findings are being hailed as a breakthrough in digital child safety. The success of the pilot project is expected to accelerate Australia’s efforts to legally enforce the age-based restriction.
“There is no longer a major technological hurdle standing in the way,” said Tony Allen, CEO of ACCS. “In Australia, we now know that age verification can be rolled out securely, privately, and effectively.”
The proposed verification process involves cross-checking official identification documents like passports or driver’s licenses, with data being processed through secure third-party systems ensuring that social media platforms themselves never access the sensitive information. Alternatively, users can verify their age by submitting a selfie or short video clip, which is analyzed using advanced AI to estimate the user’s age.
This technological leap may soon lead to sweeping digital reforms, as lawmakers look to shield younger users from the documented harms of early and unsupervised exposure to social media. If passed, the policy would mark a turning point in global digital governance and place Australia at the forefront of child safety in the online world.