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You can access the official documents here: Register of codes and standards | eSafety media release | Compliance guidance (PDF)
Six new age verification codes came into effect in Australia on March 9, 2026, requiring proof of age to access pornography, R18+ games, adult apps, and explicit AI chatbots. The rules apply to any service accessible in Australia and carry penalties of up to A$49.5 million ($34.5 million) per breach.
The codes were developed by industry associations and registered by eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant under the Online Safety Act 2021. Three earlier codes for search engines, hosting services, and internet carriers took effect on December 27, 2025, meaning Google and Bing already blur pornographic and violent results for logged-out users and those under 18.
What’s covered? The March 9 codes apply to app stores (Apple App Store, Google Play), device manufacturers, social media platforms, and gaming and messaging services.
What changes for pornography sites?
What about AI chatbots? Companion chatbots and generative AI services capable of producing sexually explicit content, high-impact violence, or self-harm material must verify that users are 18+, either at login or when generating restricted content.
This applies to AI services with adult-content capabilities, not general-purpose chatbots.
How are app stores and gaming affected?
What happens on social media?
How do companies verify age?
Companies can choose from several methods:
Privacy protections: All methods must comply with Australian privacy laws. The government does not collect or manage verification data. it is handled by the service provider or their accredited third-party partner.
No Australian is required to use government ID if alternative methods are available.
How did the market respond?
Virtual Private network (VPN) downloads surged on March 9. Three VPN apps ranked in the top 15 free smartphone apps, with VPN, Super Unlimited Proxy ranking ahead of all social media platforms on Apple’s App Store.
VPN use is legal in Australia, and these tools allow users to bypass restrictions by hiding their location through IP addresses from other countries.
Rather than implement age verification, major porn site owner Aylo chose to block Australian access to some platforms (RedTube, YouPorn) and show only safe-for-work versions of others (Pornhub).
How will this be enforced?
The eSafety Commissioner monitors compliance, investigates complaints, and can use formal investigation powers. Civil penalties reach up to A$49.5 million per breach of a direction to comply with the codes.
Companies must test and monitor the effectiveness of their age-verification measures over time. Enforcement will focus on systemic non-compliance, rather than individual violations.
Australians can report non-compliant services directly to eSafety.
What’s the Implementation timeline?
Indian context: The Australian model is also influencing policy debates in other countries, including India. In March 2026, Karnataka became the first Indian state to propose banning social media for children under 16, while Andhra Pradesh announced restrictions for those under 13.
However, critics warn that blanket age bans ignore how children develop agency between ages 13-18 and risk deepening India’s digital gender divide, particularly if families use these restrictions to keep girls offline.
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