Australia internet bill could block under-18s from email, Google warns

Google warned on Monday that Australia's proposed internet safety law could end up blocking under-18s from using Gmail if it comes into force.

The proposal, known as the Digital Duty of Care, has already passed the House of Representatives and needs cross-party support to clear the Senate. Under it, internet companies must prove they are acting to remove harmful content, facing fines of up to 109 million Australian dollars if they fail.

A provision making age checks compulsory where children risk seeing pornography could also require age assurance and access blocks for everyday communication services such as messaging, email and personal file storage, Rachel Lord, YouTube's Australia-New Zealand policy head, told a Senate hearing. It could become surveillance reaching into private communications and file storage, she said.

The law's aim is to stop under-18s seeing harmful content such as pornography, eating disorder material and extreme violence. Even so, internet companies and free speech advocates warn it hands regulators too much power and pressures companies into removing content.