Australia's new Digital Duty of Care bill could block teens from Gmail, Google warns

Australia's proposed Digital Duty of Care bill may restrict teens from accessing Gmail and other messaging platforms, according to Google. Rachel Lord, head of policy for Google-owned YouTube in Australia and New Zealand, expressed concerns during a Senate hearing on Monday. The bill, which has passed the House of Representatives and awaits Senate approval, would require internet companies to prevent online harm before it occurs, with penalties of up to A$109 million ($75.1 million) for non-compliance.

Lord stated that provisions requiring age verification for children's exposure to pornography or fetish material could extend to everyday communication services, potentially including email and messaging. While the legislation does not explicitly mandate blocking under-18s from using services, it does not explicitly exempt email or messaging services, raising questions about the impact on platforms like Gmail.

Google prefers to limit the requirement to services whose primary purpose is distributing pornographic material. Meta, TikTok, and Snap have also voiced their concerns about the proposed law, warning of broad definitions of harmful content that could give regulators too much discretion over content removal.