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Although the title is correct, it's worth noting that Google is not doing this because it thinks it's fun to require verification. The Australian government is
by asdfasgasdgasdg 5y ago
Although the title is correct, it's worth noting that Google is not doing this because it thinks it's fun to require verification. The Australian government is requiring google to take this action.
- moltke 5y agoThe incentives of the two organizations are aligned. It makes sense and is very unfortunate that they capitulate so easily. It's yet another example of why you shouldn't rely on anything from Google.
- jaquer_1 5y agoGoogle is taking part, end of story.
- karpierz 5y agoHeadline: Google follows local laws. Alternate-universe headline: Google uses monopolistic power to ignore government regulation for profit. Which do you prefer?
- falcolas 5y agoByline: Uses uploaded validation beyond the scope of the law using their patented “improve our services” playbook. (from TFA) Google is going too far.
- nhinck2 5y agoIf Google (in Australia) does use this information for any purpose other than confirming age then they have broken the law.
- hackyhacky 5y agoHow about: Australia forces company to comply with oppressive surveillance state restrictions, cynically deployed in the name of safety?
- karpierz 5y agoMaybe in an alternate reality where Rupert Murdoch was in the business of informing the people.
- johannes1234321 5y agoGoogle creating attention probably is best that short befor an election.
- LewisVerstappen 5y ago>"If our systems are unable to establish that a viewer is above the age of 18, we will request that they provide a valid ID or credit card to verify their age.” I don't think Google is complaining too much. Especially if it gives them an excuse to collect credit card data (reducing a significant amount of friction when they sell YouTube premium / google drive subscriptions).
- whimsicalism 5y agoNot sure how you concluded that from this quote
- RobertMiller 5y agoA simple "the law requires us to" somewhere in that quote would have gone a long way to convey displeasure at their arm being twisted. But nothing in that quote suggests any arm twisting, and why should google of all corporations be given the benefit of the doubt? They look like eager and willing collaborators.
- emteycz 5y agoSo why they didn't try to require ID for all the previous years until laws required it?
- syshum 5y agoLarge Corporations will often have government enact laws they know would be unpopular policies for a variety of reasons... Many times companies will even publicly opposes the very laws they actually support behind the scenes. Not saying that is the case here, but it pretty common for corporations to use government as their tool
- RobertMiller 5y agoIf they want us to believe they're displeased at this requirement, why don't they say so? Google has certainly complained and protested about other laws before. > In response to multiple complaints we received under the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act, we have removed 15 results from this page. If you wish, you may read the DMCA complaints that caused the removals at LumenDatabase.org:
- nojs 5y agoOk, so what’s the real reason the government wants this?
- kQq9oHeAz6wLLS 5y agoWell, the Australian government has shown it's willing to throw people into camps against their will, so...greater control of the population would be my guess. You know. To keep kids safe.
- forum_ghost 5y agoThey want us to live in Utopia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJYaXy5mmA8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJYaXy5mmA8
- RobertMiller 5y agoThe "Five Eyes" anglosphere establishment uses Australia as a testbed for authoritarian measures that may later be implemented in the others.
- aaa_aaa 5y agoFor the greater good. </s>
- wutbrodo 5y agoThe ~only reason gov't ever does anything is because they think it looks good to voters. And any given voter doesn't have "wants" or "beliefs", just violent mood swings and social performance. This isn't really even a bug of government's! Government action is very often valuable and necessary. But the incentive structure is such that modeling the gov't as a somewhat-rational entity with well-formed desires is usually not the correct frame to start with, IMO
- codewithcheese 5y ago"because the voters want it" is just how they spin it, the reason is to have a chilling effect on expressing dissatisfaction with whatever party is in power.
- Siira 5y agoPerhaps there is some Chinese influence in this governmental decision, as well. They benefit from normalizing oppression.
- dijonman2 5y agoChina and Australia are very close. China is Australia's largest two-way trading partner in goods and services, accounting for nearly one third (31 per cent) of our trade with the world. https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/china/china-country-brief https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/china/china-country-brief The CCP is evil.
- scarab92 5y agoAustralia trades with China, particularly in minerals, but the countries are not on good terms. Australia has multiple WTO cases running against China, and the Australian government frequently calls out CCP misbehaviour. In turn, China has placed tarrifs on higher value Australia products like seafood and wine. It's similar to the Germany / Russia relationship, economically necessary but with frequently conflicting social principles.
- superkuh 5y agoThat's interesting. Is the Australian government requiring me (superkuh) to take action to follow their absurd laws for my dot com website too? I definitely have Australian users. I guess what I'm asking is if this is something Google is doing pro-actively to cover their asses after a general law was passed, or if the Australian government has explicitly contacted Google (alphabet) about this?
- stubish 5y agoThe Australian Government is only targeting big social media. They are requiring big social media to be able to identify users so they may be prosecuted for defamation. They and the courts don't care about sites that an insignificant number of people follow (yet). Age verification on Google is just the start. Soon you won't be able to use Twitter, Facebook or comments sections on Australian news sites without sending them ID or using a VPN. Tumbler, Pinterest and hacker news have not yet been targeted.