An Australian-based company’s policy head warned on Monday that the draft regulation could result in Google being compelled to prevent under-18s from using its Gmail service, underscoring an industry concern about its potential for overreach.
The Digital Duty of Care legislation, already passed by the House of Representatives in Australia but requiring cross-party support to pass the Senate, mandates that internet companies take measures to eliminate harmful content or risk a fine of up to A$109 million ($75.1 million).
According to online companies and free speech advocates, the law could give regulators excessive discretion in determining what constitutes harmful content, pressuring platforms to remove it. Google’s warning is indicative of its apprehension that the law may infiltrate common areas of the internet.
At a Senate hearing, Rachel Lord, the head of policy in Australia and New Zealand for Google’s YouTube streaming website, stated that a section of the law that mandates age checks in cases where there is a risk of a child viewing pornography could necessitate the age-assured blocking of access to everyday communication services such as email, messaging, and private file storage.
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