Australia Expands Online Age Verification Requirements

Australia's online regulator ordered porn websites and platforms to block under-18s starting Monday, March 9, 2026, under sweeping child safety rules. The code mandates robust age verification across pornography sites, search engines, app stores, gaming services and generative AI, and allows fines up to Aus$49.5 million per breach. The measures follow a December 10 ban on under-16s joining social media.