If New Zealand and Australia, both 5-eye partners, were not used as the testing ground during the COVID-19 and vaccination exploits, this current move may not have gained the same level of scrutiny. However, with a documented history of Australia pushing the limits against freedom and liberty, this latest development is notable.
Effective today, all Australian social media users will need to prove their age on websites and apps including Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X and YouTube. Users under the age of 16 are banned from accessing the sites/apps.
“But it’s only Australia,” say most. Think again. In the era of modern internet travel and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), how is the compliance aspect going to be determined? That’s the problem the Australian control agents are now trying to address.
An intellectually discerning person would note the compliance angle should have been worked out long before the regulatory and compliance switches were flipped and the rushed-into-place law was activated. The Internet Police Czar charged with enforcing the ban is an American.
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