Australia’s online safety regulator has warned pornography websites that they must begin blocking users under the age of 18 from Monday, as sweeping new digital safety rules aimed at protecting children come into force.
The directive was issued by the country’s eSafety authority, led by Julie Inman Grant, which said platforms must implement effective age-verification systems to prevent minors from accessing explicit material.
In the days leading up to the enforcement date, several pornography websites operating in Australia had already begun restricting access. Some platforms barred non-members from viewing content, while others temporarily halted new registrations as they prepared to introduce age-verification technology.
The measure forms part of a broader effort by the Australian government to tighten online protections for young users. The latest rules expand existing safeguards introduced after the country implemented a landmark restriction on December 10 banning children under 16 from signing up to social media platforms.
Authorities say the new framework is designed to limit children’s exposure to what regulators describe as “age-inappropriate content.” Beyond pornography, the restrictions also apply to material involving high-impact violence, suicide-related content, and eating disorder promotion.
Under the expanded regulations, a wide range of digital services must comply with the new safety requirements.
These include pornographic websites, search engines, app stores, gaming providers, and generative artificial intelligence systems such as chatbots.
Speaking on Friday, Grant warned that companies that fail to comply with the rules could face severe consequences.
“Make no mistake, where we see failures or foot-dragging, we will hold companies to account,” she said.
Regulators said penalties for violating the rules could reach up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (about 35 million U.S. dollars) per breach.
The Australian government has positioned the crackdown as one of the most comprehensive online child protection frameworks globally, arguing that stronger safeguards are necessary as young people increasingly access digital platforms and services.
