FSC Applauds Australian Government's Prudent Decision on Age Verification

The Free Speech Coalition, the non-profit trade association representing the adult industry, commends the Australian Government for its sensible and judicious determination regarding online age verification for adult websites. The decision not to impose mandatory age verification at this time is a victory for the privacy of Australians.

As explained in its Response to the Roadmap for Age Verification, the government found that “age assurance technologies are immature, and present privacy, security, implementation and enforcement risks”. Rather than jeopardize the data security of Australians, the government increased its commitment to funding education and technology to keep children safe online, including the Family Friendly Filter program, which tests and accredits parental control and content filtering software.

"In recognition of the limitations and potential risks associated with current age verification technologies, Australia’s government has chosen to prioritize the protection of citizens' sensitive information while preserving their access to lawful content. We commend them for taking a measured approach to this issue," said Alison Boden, Executive Director of the Free Speech Coalition. "The decision not to rush into enforcing age verification demonstrates a commitment to well-informed policy-making that respects the rights of both consumers and content providers."

The Free Speech Coalition remains committed to collaborating with governments, industry stakeholders, and advocacy groups to ensure responsible practices that protect children, safeguard privacy, and uphold free speech rights. We are encouraged by the Australian Government's approach and stand ready to contribute our expertise to future discussions on this important matter.