Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view some content

reclaimthenet.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

1–10 of 208 posts

Re: Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view some content

#3

Post by jaquer_1 »

asdfasgasdgasdg wrote: post #2

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.

Google is taking part, end of story.

Re: Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view some content

#4

Post by karpierz »

jaquer_1 wrote: post #3
asdfasgasdgasdg wrote: post #2

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.

Google is taking part, end of story.

Headline: Google follows local laws.

Alternate-universe headline: Google uses monopolistic power to ignore government regulation for profit.

Which do you prefer?

Re: Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view some content

#5

Post by johannes1234321 »

jaquer_1 wrote: post #3
asdfasgasdgasdg wrote: post #2

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.

Google is taking part, end of story.

Google creating attention probably is best that short befor an election.

Re: Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view some content

#6

Post by batch12 »

I am curious if the ID will be validated somehow or just dates checked. If the former, I wonder of this endpoint would be given to any site owner to validate age. If the latter, I can imagine someone creating a "this ID does not exist" service to fill this need. More likely VPN providers are about to get a bump in clientele.

Re: Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view some content

#7

Post by dannywarner »

The Australian government made a big push to make Google and Facebook pay Australian news sites for links to content on their platforms.

Google made a number of moves to head that off, including pumping money into local initiatives and a deal with the local media companies.

Not fighting back hard against the current social conservative government's moves on censorship and cracking down on online rights is consistent with Google's other moves to protect profits and avoid paying media companies for links.

Re: Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view some content

#8

Post by LewisVerstappen »

asdfasgasdgasdg wrote: post #2

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.

>"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).

Re: Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view some content

#9

Post by nojs »

asdfasgasdgasdg wrote: post #2

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.

Ok, so what’s the real reason the government wants this?
Post reply on HN