Brickbat: No Children Allowed

Australia will implement mandatory age verification for logged-in users of search engines starting Dec. 27, 2025, under a new online safety code that charges non-compliant providers with breaching industry standards, potentially facing fines of nearly $50 million ($32.75 million U.S.) per violation. The rules, developed with input from the Australia's tech industry, require age assurance technologies to filter out pornography, violence, and material promoting eating disorders for users under 18. Critics argue the measures could compromise privacy and that users can simply log out or use a VPN.