Australia's new age verification laws for adult content online have led to mixed reactions, with users turning to VPNs and experts warning of privacy risks. The laws, which require users to verify their age before accessing pornographic material, have been implemented by some major sites like Pornhub and RedTube, while others have yet to comply.
Users have expressed frustration with the verification process, which often involves submitting a video selfie or linking to government ID. One user, Joe, described the process as 'maddening,' while another, Chris, said the choices were to 'link your perversions to your government ID, or submit your face into the AI slop machine.' Many are moving away from compliant sites or using VPNs to bypass restrictions.
Sex workers and advocates have warned that the laws could drive users to less secure platforms. Mish Pony, chief executive of Scarlet Alliance, said the laws 'funnel traffic away from platforms that do have moderation safeguards in place and towards sites that profit from non-consensual and stolen porn.' OnlyFans creator Andy Conboi noted a drop in engagement and said some creators are moving to safe-for-work platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
Opponents of pornography, however, have welcomed the laws. Melinda Tankard Reist of Collective Shout called it a 'hard fought' victory, saying it provides 'one obstacle in the way of young people being exposed to rape porn, torture porn, incest porn and extreme violence.' The Australian Christian Lobby also praised the move.
Despite the enforcement, most top free adult sites have not yet implemented age verification. The threat of a $49.5m fine for non-compliance may prompt more to act. Google Trends shows searches for porn and VPNs have spiked, indicating that many Australians are finding ways around the restrictions.
