It seems the Australian government is pushing digital ID despite privacy concerns, specifically for age verification on adult websites, using the possibility of children looking at naughty pictures on the internet as a reason.
“We do not want young people having unfettered access to pornography,” Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland reportedly said.
Well, it’s a bit late for that. I’m pretty sure young people have had unfettered access to porn since the existence of the internet.
(I am not saying young people should have unfettered access to porn, but if one honestly believes porn to be a problem, then there are other solutions. That, of course, is another discussion.)
Looking at one application in isolation may seem reasonable. It seems that way, of course.
But these things are always done using salami tactics. The above is not the only case. For example, it was reported on May 8 that Victoria is to begin a trial program for digital driver’s licenses. As a selling point, the holder can restrict the information shown. Government Services Minister Danny Pearson “can’t wait”! Rah!
Anyway, back to young people looking at naughty pictures: eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant reportedly said, “It’s a very contextual thing. We’re not looking at a blunt force type approach … we’re also looking at holistic approach.”
“It’s a very contextual thing.”
I feel very reassured by that. Aren’t you? Let me attempt to clarify.
This Julie Inman Grant spoke at the WEF in 2022 and said, “…so I think we’re going to have to think about a recalibration of a whole range of human rights that are playing out online, you know, from freedom of speech to the freedom, to, you know, to be free from online violence, or the right of data protection to the right, to child dignity.”
But wait, that’s not all.
Recently, regarding end-to-end encryption, Julie Inman Grant said, “It’s akin to leaving a home open to an intruder. Once that bad actor is inside the house, good luck getting them out.”
Read that again if you have to.
With an eSafety commissioner who suggests “a recalibration of a whole range of human rights” at the WEF and states that encryption that protects you is bad for you, I am sure any digital ID will be perfectly safe.
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