Key points
- Government report reveals inconsistencies in selfie-based age verification software.
- Non-Caucasian users and teenage girls show significantly lower accuracy rates.
- Users near the 16-year-old age cutoff face high uncertainty, which may lead to false positives.
- Social media platforms face fines of A$49.5 million for non-compliance with the December ban.
A new Australian government report has cast doubt on the viability of its upcoming social media ban for users under 16, due to significant accuracy issues with the planned selfie-based age verification technology. The report, released Monday, found that while the technology generally performs well for older users, accuracy drops dramatically for those around the 16-year-old age threshold, particularly impacting non-Caucasian users and teenage girls.
This disparity raises concerns about potential discrimination and the overall effectiveness of the planned December rollout.
The trial highlighted a “grey zone” for users within three years of the age limit, where the system’s uncertainty is considerably higher. For 16-year-olds specifically, there’s an 8.5% chance of being incorrectly flagged as underage, necessitating supplementary verification methods such as ID checks or parental consent. This adds a layer of complexity to the process and may create additional hurdles for already marginalized groups.
The implications for social media companies like Meta and Alphabet are considerable. Under the new law, platforms must implement reasonable measures to block underage users or face hefty fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million).
The report’s findings suggest that achieving this level of accuracy across all demographics by the December deadline may prove challenging, leading to potential legal and public relations issues.
Experts in online safety have expressed skepticism about the feasibility of the ban, given the revealed inaccuracies and the short timeframe for implementation. Justine Humphry, a media researcher at the University of Sydney, highlighted the significant variations in accuracy as a major concern.
The government, however, maintains that the trial demonstrates the availability of effective age verification options while safeguarding user privacy. The coming months will reveal whether these claims hold as Australia prepares for its ambitious social media age restriction.
