reclaimthenet on Nostr: Australia’s pushing toward a digital ID under the guise of “age verification.” ...

Australia’s pushing toward a digital ID under the guise of “age verification.” New legislation would force social media to verify users' ages, banning kids under 16 from having accounts. PM Albanese calls it a “gift” to parents, but the tech doesn’t exist to do this without tracking identities—and privacy risks for all users are huge.

Platforms like TikTok and YouTube would be responsible for enforcing these digital ID checks, with oversight by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner. They’re selling it as “protecting kids,” but this looks more like a first step toward mandatory digital ID, with massive implications for privacy and surveillance.