The motion, spearheaded by United Australia Party Senator Ralph Babet, stems from a recommendation by the federal eSafety Commissioner, who in early July urged the government to consider age verification requirements for users signed into search engines like Google and Bing. Verification methods under discussion included ID checks, biometric scanning, credit card authentication, parental vouching, AI-powered estimations or third-party verification services, raising immediate red flags for privacy advocates.
In a speech to the Senate on July 29, Babet acknowledged the importance of child safety but warned that the proposed measures posed a fundamental threat to Australians' civil liberties.
"Let me say from the outset that protecting children online is a
moral imperative," he said. "Measures like safe-search filters for
minors, better parental controls and the restriction of harmful content
are of course welcome, but let's not kid ourselves – this is not about
protecting children, it is about building a surveillance infrastructure
under the cover of safety."...<<<Read More>>>....
