Google has warned that a proposed Australian online safety law could require age checks that affect under-18s’ access to Gmail and other everyday digital services. The bill has passed the House of Representatives but still needs Senate support before it can become law.
The warning was raised during a Senate hearing on the proposed Digital Duty of Care legislation. Google’s Australia and New Zealand policy head said parts of the bill could lead to age assurance requirements for services such as email, messaging and private file storage.
The issue illustrates the challenge governments face when trying to protect children online without disrupting ordinary communication and privacy.
What the bill proposes
The proposed law would require internet companies to take steps to remove harmful content. Companies that fail to meet the requirements could face penalties of up to A$109 million, according to the report.
A provision discussed at the hearing concerns age checks where there is a risk that a child could encounter pornography. Google argued that the wording could extend beyond social media or entertainment sites and affect general-purpose communication tools.
The legislation is not yet final. It has passed the lower house and requires cross-party support in the Senate. The hearing was continuing, leaving room for questions, amendments or further debate.
The concern about age checks
Age assurance can involve different methods for estimating or confirming a user’s age. Depending on the system, it may require people to provide information or use tools that assess identity or age.
Google’s concern is that services not designed primarily for viewing public content could still be drawn into the requirements. Email and file storage often contain private communications, documents and personal information.
That raises questions about how age checks would work, what information would be collected and how it would be protected. It also raises the possibility that platforms might restrict access to avoid penalties if the rules are unclear.
Safety goals and privacy trade-offs
Supporters of stronger online regulation argue that companies should take greater responsibility for reducing children’s exposure to harmful material. The Australian government has said a broad framework is needed to support a safer internet.
Technology companies and some free-speech advocates have cautioned that broad definitions of harmful content could give regulators substantial discretion. They also say the threat of large penalties could encourage platforms to remove more material than necessary.
These arguments involve competing public interests. Children’s safety online matters, while privacy, access to communication and clear rules also matter. The details of a law determine how those interests are balanced.
What happens next
The Senate process will determine whether the proposal advances unchanged, is amended or fails to gain support. The hearing provides a forum for lawmakers to examine how the bill might work in practice, including its effect on services used by adults and children.
For users, the warning does not mean Gmail access for teenagers is changing now. The bill remains a proposal, and its final wording and enforcement requirements have not yet been settled.
The debate is likely to continue around how to define harmful content, when age checks are required and what safeguards should apply to private services. Those decisions could shape not only social media rules, but also how routine digital tools operate.