Australians Turn to VPNs Amidst New Online Age Restrictions
- tech360.tv
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Australians are increasingly downloading virtual private networks, known as VPNs, as the country rolled out sweeping online age restrictions. These measures have led one of the world's largest pornography distributors to block users from its platforms.
Australia previously imposed a nationwide ban on teenagers using social media. A separate law now requires artificial intelligence-powered chatbot services to keep certain content, including pornography, extreme violence, self-harm, and eating disorder material, from minors or face substantial fines.
These penalties could reach up to A$49.5 million ($34.5 million). The country has also joined others like Britain, France, and various US states in requiring websites that disseminate pornography to verify users are over 18 years old.
Additionally, app stores must now run age checks before permitting downloads of software labelled 18+. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant stated the aim of these measures is to offer children the same online protection that is expected offline.
Commissioner Grant told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that children cannot "walk into a bar and order a drink, they can't stroll into a strip club or browse an adult shop or sit down at a blackjack table in a casino." She added that these protections are now being brought "to the digital realm."
Charts published by iPhone maker Apple showed that three of the 15 most downloaded free smartphone applications were VPNs. The most downloaded VPN, titled VPN - Super Unlimited Proxy, ranked ahead of any social media platform.
Canada-based Aylo, which owns a large network of pornography websites, has blocked Australians from accessing its platforms RedTube and YouPorn. The company also presented a version of Pornhub without explicit content.
The websites displayed a banner stating they were "not currently accepting new account registrations in your region". Aylo confirmed in an email that it had "restricted access to our platforms in a number of locations, including the UK, France, and a number of US states, due to ineffective and haphazard age verification laws".
Tom Sulston, deputy chair of advocacy group Digital Rights Watch, commented that it was unsurprising people were using VPNs. Sulston expressed hope that users would discover VPNs work for "spicier internet sites" and are "just generally a good idea to use VPNs when you're traversing the internet, because they do offer you some privacy protections."
Australia has implemented new online age restrictions targeting content access for minors.
These laws include requirements for AI chatbots to filter certain content and mandate age verification for pornography websites.
Fines for non-compliance can reach A$49.5 million ($34.5 million).
Source: REUTERS
