Google Warns Australia’s Internet Safety Rules Could Block Under-18s From Gmail

Australia's push to shield children from harmful online material could end up locking minors out of their personal inboxes. Google has warned that the country's proposed Digital Duty of Care legislation might force tech companies to block anyone under 18 from using Gmail.

During a Senate hearing on November 9, YouTube's Australia and New Zealand policy head Rachel Lord raised concerns about the bill. She explained that statutory provisions requiring age checks wherever children risk encountering pornography could affect everyday communication tools, including email, messaging, and private file storage.

The legislation has already passed the House of Representatives and requires cross-party backing in the Senate to become law. Introduced on October 15, the proposal would require providers to take reasonable steps to keep users safe with additional protections for minors, while carrying penalties of up to AU$109.2 million ($75.40 million) for non-compliance.

Other major technology firms raised similar objections during the parliamentary process. Meta, TikTok, and Snap warned that giving regulators broad discretion over harmful content will encourage platforms to over-censor and remove excessive material simply to avoid severe financial penalties. Beyond age verification, the bill includes tools allowing users to turn off algorithmic recommendations in feeds. It also grants the eSafety commissioner power to issue removal notices for deepfake nudify apps, shortens the required response window for cyberbullying and abuse complaints to 24 hours, and establishes minimum standards for platform complaint processes.

The legislative debate unfolds alongside ongoing legal battles over Australia's existing youth internet restrictions. The country implemented a world-first social media ban for children under 16 on December 10, 2025. Reddit has challenged that restriction in court, calling the policy inept and ill thought out while arguing that its lack of friend networks exempts it from classification as a social media platform.

Summary

As Australia expands its online safety mandates beyond social networks into everyday digital infrastructure, tech companies argue that compliance burdens will force them to lock minors out of standard communication services entirely.

Disclosure: This article was made with the help of AI.