Committee: Environment and Communications References Committee
Date referred: 27 August 2025
Submissions close: 22 September 2025
Reporting date: 31 October 2025

Terms of Reference

On 27 August 2025, the Senate referred the following matters to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 31 October 2025:

The implementation of regulations aimed at protecting children and young people online, with particular reference to the Internet Search Engine Services Online Safety Code and the under 16 social media ban, including:

1. privacy and data protection implications of age verification;
2. the expansion of corporate data collection and user profiling capabilities enabled by code compliance requirements;
3. the technical implementation and efficacy of age verification and content filtering mechanisms;
4. alternative technical approaches to online safety for all users, including young people;
5. appropriate oversight mechanisms for online safety codes;
6. global experience and best practice; and
7. any other related matters.