Collective Shout has condemned the Federal Government for refusing to adopt an age verification system as one obstacle to help protect children from exposure to pornography.
This is a sad day for child safeguarding stakeholders who lobbied for years for an age verification system, contributing to Federal inquiries and stakeholder roundtables.
The Government has caved to the vested interests of the porn industry.
Even while acknowledging porn as a driver of violence against women, as reflected in its National Plan to Address Violence Against Women and Children (2022-2023), the Government has allowed itself to be swayed by industry resistance to an age-verification system.
If France, Germany, UK, Louisiana and Utah can roll out age verification systems, why can’t we?
Vested interests should not be put before the wellbeing of children.
Source: Porn profits before child protection: Government dismisses age-verification – Collective Shout