AUSTRALIA PROBES VPN LOOPHOLES IN ADULT SITE AGE CHECKS

The online safety regulator found that nine in 10 of the most visited adult sites used by Australians now have age verification systems in place. However, the eSafety watchdog has signaled it will assess compliance among the top 30 adult sites to determine if VPN usage is circumventing these restrictions. Virtual private networks mask user location and identity, potentially allowing individuals to bypass geographical restrictions and age verification protocols. The investigation addresses a critical gap between policy implementation and practical enforcement. Australia introduced mandatory age verification codes for adult websites in March as part of broader online safety measures. The new requirement aims to prevent minors from accessing explicit content. The upcoming eSafety probe will determine whether current age verification systems are sufficiently robust or if additional regulatory measures are needed to close VPN-related loopholes.