Online age-verification system could create ‘honeypot’ of personal data and pornography-viewing habits, privacy groups warn

As the government develops online safety guidelines, digital rights groups says any approach requiring the use of ID is ‘invasive and risky’

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In the wake of the Optus and Medibank data breaches, digital rights groups are urging the federal government to rule out requiring identification documents as part of any online age-verification system, warning it could create a honeypot of people’s personal information and pornography-viewing habits.

The eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, is developing an online safety “roadmap”, outlining a way to prevent minors from accessing adult content online by ensuring host sites have verified the ages of users.

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