Age verification laws in Australia, UK, France prompt privacy concerns

Australia enacted a ban on social media use by those under 16 in December. Six months later, more than 60 percent of Australian users aged 12 to 15 who previously held accounts still access at least one platform. The regulator indicated that platforms may need to adopt more effective verification approaches.

France finalized an under-15 social media ban this week, with enforcement scheduled to begin in September. The measure follows an earlier 2023 law that required parental consent but received limited European Commission approval and enforcement.

challenges David Inserra of the Cato

Institute said age verification systems cannot limit checks to suspected minors. "To verify the age of kids, you have to verify the age of everyone, and that means everyone's ID," he said. Regulators in Australia have prohibited platforms from requiring government identification even when age is uncertain.

context Some U.S. states are considering similar age-verification requirements or site bans when platforms cannot confirm user age. Inserra noted that U.S. courts have historically protected anonymous speech, which may affect how such measures are reviewed. Platforms continue to evaluate methods that balance child-safety goals with user privacy requirements across multiple jurisdictions.