Australia Enforces Age ID Checks for Search Engine Users (reclaimthenet.org)

I have a feeling that I am going to soon become an old curmudgeon who tells stories of the good old days of the Internet to their kids and grandkids.

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the government can already subpoena private companies for records of an account's search history, what's the spook value add of tying them to pii? this is like a one-two punch, first social media now search engines - stunning to witness freedom crumpled with such ease. also fuck need to setup a vpn to keep using google drive/gmail for work

if it keeps on going like this, people will be forced to find other people who want to take there clothes off!

Aussie here. Using Safari/iOS with an ad-blocker, tested un-logged-in Google, Bing and DDG. Search was “naked women porn”. Only Bing asked via a pop-up whether I was over 18, with options “Agree” or “Disagree”. No other inputs required.

One piece of anecdata. Not particularly scientific. TBH the submitter (or anyone else) can use a VPN with an Australian exit node to test this for themselves.

Why Australia has those weird, draconian laws invented on the spot: Australians don't seem like authoritarian "need to know" crowd, yet there is no major opposition to this absurd change. Whats next, internet passports?

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