Australia Tightens Online Age Restrictions, VPN Use Surges

0:00This is your global news update for March 9th. Australia has rolled out tough new online age restrictions, becoming one of the first countries to require age checks for porn sites and adult apps. Starting Monday, March 9th, websites must verify users are over 18, app stores have to screen downloads for 18 plus content and AI. Chapats can show kids stuff like porn or extreme violence. Finds could hit $49,500,000 Australian dollars for breaking the rules. VPN apps shot to the top of download charts right away, with three of the 15 most popular free smartphone apps being virtual private networks. The leading one, a super unlimited proxy service, beat out all social media platforms on Apple's list. These tools hide a device's location to dodge restrictions. The e-safety commissioner compared it to real-world rules, saying kids can't buy drinks in bars or into strip clubs, so now the digital world gets. Similar protections.

1:01Officials aim to shield miners after Australia already banned teens from social media last December. Meanwhile, a major porn distributor called ALO blocked full access to sites like RedTube and U-Porn for Australians switching porn hub to A. Save for work version without new signups. The company says this avoids privacy risks from age checks. This follows similar spikes in VPN use in Britain during their porn verification push, and critics argue these laws might push users to shady your sites. Instead of truly protecting kids, a quick thank you to our sponsor of today's episode. Some people meditate, I just lay down and press play, S-O-L-I, solely pillow.com.