A$109 Million Penalty Threat Could Force Gmail Block for Minors
Proposed Australian internet legislation could force technology platforms to block users under 18 from basic communication tools, including Gmail, messaging, and private file storage. Global tech companies, policy advocates, and online users face potential service disruptions and heightened monitoring if the draft regulation passes the Senate without amendments.
A$109 Million Fines Push Tech Platforms Toward Private Communication Controls
Fines reaching up to A$109 million ($75.1 million) await companies that fail to systematically eliminate harmful content under the draft Digital Duty of Care legislation. Speaking at a Senate hearing, Rachel Lord, head of policy in Australia and New Zealand for Google‘s YouTube, testified that age-assurance mandates designed to prevent minors from viewing adult content could require platforms to intrusively monitor or restrict access to routine email, messaging, and cloud storage. Representatives from Meta, TikTok, and Snap told lawmakers that broad regulatory discretion risks forcing platforms to over-moderate legal content to escape severe financial penalties, while government officials maintained that comprehensive rules remain the only pathway to secure online safety.
The Digital Duty of Care bill has already passed Australia’s House of Representatives and requires cross-party support in the Senate to become law.
