Most of the systems being discussed don’t involve uploading your ID to random websites. They’re built around privacy-preserving checks that simply confirm you're over a certain age without handing over all your personal info. It’s basically the same idea as showing your ID at a bottle shop — just digital, and often with even less data exposure.

The goal is pretty straightforward: stop kids from accessing stuff they shouldn’t. Whether people love or hate government involvement, the reality is that age gates already exist everywhere — the tech is just catching up to how the internet actually works now.

Does it need proper oversight? For sure. Can it be done badly? Absolutely. But painting it as some huge invasion of privacy or a step toward dystopia is a stretch. Most countries are moving toward similar systems anyway, and Australia isn’t doing anything particularly extreme compared to the rest.

Sometimes the outrage online is louder than the facts.