In a bid to shield children from inappropriate online content, eSafety is enthusiastically embracing the Government’s announcement of an age assurance trial. This trial will explore both age verification and age estimation technologies’ efficacy in safeguarding children from stumbling upon pornography and other potentially harmful material on the internet.
Affectionately known as #eKaren on X, the website formerly known as Twitter, the eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has already initiated collaboration with the technology sector to develop phase 2 industry codes. These codes, running parallel to the trial, aim to prevent children’s access to online pornographic content and other harmful material, including graphic portrayals of real violence.
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The Commissioner “will soon outline her clear expectations to industry of the kinds of protective actions each sector should be able to commit to through the second phase of industry-drafted codesarticulate her clear expectations to the industry regarding the protective measures each sector should undertake through the second phase of industry-drafted codes” she said in a press release dated 1 May 2024.
eSafety recognizes the significant advantages of conducting the trial alongside the development of phase 2 codes. Many technology providers already employ automated measures to address high-impact content such as nudity and violence. We anticipate full cooperation from various industry sectors, including social media platforms, search engines, app stores, ISPs, device manufacturers, gaming, and dating sites, in their efforts to minimize harm to children.
#eKaren urges the industry to work promptly in submitting industry codes for consideration. While these codes will be drafted by the industry, they must undergo registration by the eSafety Commissioner to ensure they uphold appropriate community safeguards.
Should any code fall short of these requirements, #eKaren retains the authority to establish an industry standard applicable to the respective online sector.
The trial of age assurance technologies aligns with one of the key recommendations outlined in eSafety’s age verification roadmap. This roadmap, resulting from nearly two years of cross-sector consultation, extensive research, and independent technical assessments, underscores the importance of age assurance technologies, including age estimation and age verification, in safeguarding online environments for children.
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