List of recommendations

Recommendation 1

2.143

The Committee recommends that the Digital Transformation Agency, in consultation with the Australian Cyber Security Centre, develop standards for online age verification for age-restricted products and services.

a. These standards should specify minimum requirements for privacy, safety, security, data handling, usability, accessibility, and auditing of age-verification providers.

b. Consideration should be given to the existing technical standards in Australia and overseas, including but not limited to the UK Age Verification Certificate, the PAS 1296 Age Checking code of practice, the Trusted Digital Identity Framework, and the European Union General Data Protection Regulation.

c. Opportunities should also be provided for consultation with industry, including private age-verification providers, and members of the public.

Recommendation 2

2.148

The Committee recommends that the Digital Transformation Agency extend the Digital Identity program to include an age-verification exchange for the purpose of third-party online age verification.

Recommendation 3

3.184

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government direct and adequately resource the eSafety Commissioner to expeditiously develop and publish a roadmap for the implementation of a regime of mandatory age verification for online pornographic material, setting out:

a. a suitable legislative and regulatory framework;

b. a program of consultation with community, industry, and government stakeholders;

c. activities for awareness raising and education for the public; and

d. recommendations for complementary measures to ensure that age verification is part of a broader, holistic approach to address risks and harms associated with the exposure of children and young people to online pornography.

Recommendation 4

4.61

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government, through the National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering, introduce a requirement that customers are not able to use an online wagering service prior to verification of their age as 18 years or over.

Recommendation 5

4.66

The Committee recommends that the Office of the eSafety Commissioner or other relevant government department report to the Australian Government on options for restricting access to loot boxes and other simulated gambling elements in computer and video games to adults aged 18 years or over, including through the use of mandatory age verification.

Recommendation 6

4.68

The Committee recommends that the Office of the eSafety Commissioner develop educational resources to inform parents of the risks and harms associated with online gambling and assist parents to reduce children and young people’s exposure to online gambling.

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