Australia: Announced Federal Budget Bill including funding for a pilot program focused on age assurance technology

On 1 May 2024, the Australian Government announced that it would include in the Federal Budget Bill provisions to enable the funding for a pilot on age assurance technology to protect children from accessing harmful online content, including pornography. The initiative aims to identify and test the efficacy of available age-assurance products in safeguarding children from age-inappropriate material online. The outcomes of the pilot will contribute to the ongoing work under the Online Safety Act, led by Australia's eSafety Commissioner, to develop industry codes or standards that reduce children's exposure to harmful content. The Department of the Treasury will submit the Bill to the Parliament on 14 May 2024.