Google (GOOGL.US) stated on Monday that a proposed internet law in Australia could compel the company to prohibit users under 18 from accessing its Gmail email service.
This warning, issued by a Google policy executive based in Australia, highlights growing industry concerns that the draft regulation may be overly broad in scope.
Under the Digital Duty of Care Act, internet companies must demonstrate they are taking measures to remove harmful content or face fines of up to AUD 109 million (approximately USD 75.1 million).
The bill has already passed Australia's House of Representatives but still requires cross-party support to clear the Senate.
Internet companies and free speech advocates argue that the law could grant regulators excessive discretion in defining what constitutes "harmful content," thereby pressuring platforms to remove material.
Google's warning reflects precisely this concern: that the law's impact could seep into everyday parts of the internet.
One section of the bill stipulates that if there is a risk of children seeing pornographic content, relevant services must conduct age verification.
Rachel Lord, Google's Head of Policy for Australia and New Zealand at its video streaming site YouTube, said during a Senate hearing that this provision "could require us to conduct age verification for everyday communication services like instant messaging, email, and private file storage, and block (minors) from accessing them."
She added: "We are talking about potentially intrusive surveillance inside private communications or file storage."
Representatives from Meta, TikTok, and Snap also expressed similar concerns, warning that the law would replace some existing mandatory industry codes and allow regulators broad discretion in determining what content or behavior is harmful, potentially chilling online communication.
Several representatives also raised the risk that this uncertainty could lead platforms to over-moderate content to avoid hefty regulatory fines.
The Australian government, however, maintains that a broad set of rules is the only way to ensure internet safety.
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