Australia Releases Guidelines Ahead of New Online Safety Rules

The Australian eSafety Commissioner has released guidelines ahead of new age-restricted material codes taking effect later this month. New rules require online services to protect children from exposure to age-inappropriate content.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant noted that more young people are unintentionally encountering age-inappropriate content at a young age, adding that the new codes are about protecting the kids from accidental exposure. The codes, for example, require search engines to blur image results of online pornography and extreme violence to protect children from incidental exposure.

The 98-page regulatory guidance covers new codes applying to age-restricted material and existing unlawful material codes and standards. They complement the under-16 social media ban, which goes into effect on 10 December. The new rules apply to online service providers such as app stores, social media services, equipment providers, online pornography services, and generative AI services.