The introduction of new internet age restrictions in Australia has led to a surge in VPN downloads and the blocking of certain pornographic websites for users in the country. These measures, which came into effect on Monday, aim to strengthen the protection of minors from online content deemed sensitive.
According to usage data, VPNs are now among the most downloaded apps on smartphones in Australia. These tools allow internet users to bypass certain geographical restrictions, which partly explains their sudden popularity following the implementation of the new legislation.
Meanwhile, Aylo, one of the world's largest distributors of pornographic content and owner of the Pornhub website, announced it was blocking access to some of its services from Australia. The company stated it could not immediately comply with the new requirements imposed by Australian authorities.
The new regulations require websites that distribute pornography to verify that users are over 18. App download platforms must also perform age checks before allowing the installation of adult-rated software.
These measures are part of a broader policy of digital regulation in Australia. Last December, the country became the first in the world to ban access to social media for teenagers under 16.
The law also includes obligations for chatbot services using artificial intelligence. These must prevent minors from accessing certain content, including pornography, extreme violence, or content related to self-harm and eating disorders, under penalty of fines of up to 49,5 million Australian dollars.
For Julie Inman Grant, Australia's Commissioner for Online Safety, these rules aim to align the internet with the protections that already exist in real life. "Today, a child cannot enter a bar, walk into a strip club, or sit at a blackjack table in a casino," she pointed out to justify these new restrictions.
