Google Warns Australian Safety Bill Could Lock Under-18s Out of Gmail

Google is warning that Australia's proposed Digital Duty of Care legislation could push it to cut under-18s off from Gmail and other everyday tools. Rachel Lord, head of policy in Australia and New Zealand for Google's YouTube streaming site, told a Senate hearing on Monday that a section requiring age checks where a child could see pornography could sweep in far more than adult content. In her words, it could require the company to age assure and block access to messaging, email and private file storage.

Lord said the rules raise the prospect of intrusive monitoring inside private communications and file storage, according to the hearing in Sydney. The bill has cleared Australia's House of Representatives, but it still needs cross-party backing to get through the Senate, where it is now under scrutiny.

The penalty for failing to show real effort against harmful content would run as high as A$109 million, or about $75.1 million. Meta, TikTok and Snap turned up with matching complaints, arguing the law hands regulators wide discretion to define harm and could prompt platforms to over-moderate rather than risk a fine. Critics say that chill would land on ordinary online speech.

The bill would also replace some existing mandatory industry codes, adding to the uncertainty platforms say they face. The government counters that only a broad rulebook can make the internet safe. The hearing continues.