This morning, as I scrolled through LinkedIn, a headline immediately caught my attention. Craig Young, CEO of the Technology Users Association of New Zealand (TUANZ), had shared a significant conversation he’d recently had on the NZ Herald’s Front Page podcast. The discussion centred around international moves towards rigorous age verification measures for online content, raising the pertinent question: Could Aotearoa be next?
Globally, a clear trend is emerging—countries like the UK, Australia, and various European nations are increasingly enforcing strict online age verification laws aimed at protecting children from inappropriate content. The UK’s Online Safety Act, effective from July 25, mandates robust, verifiable methods of age-checking, replacing ineffective tick-box agreements. Such legislative moves are undoubtedly well-intentioned, driven by an urgent need to safeguard young users.
Yet, as Craig Young highlighted in the podcast, these measures come bundled with substantial practical, privacy, and enforceability challenges.
The UK’s Approach: A Double-Edged Sword?
The UK’s pioneering legislation requires online platforms to utilise robust verification technologies. Methods range from facial recognition—controversial due to privacy concerns—to mobile carrier verification, and third-party agencies that verify user ages through official documentation like passports and birth certificates.
While these methods promise heightened protection, they also evoke significant unease about user privacy. Craig voiced widespread concerns about the implications of handing sensitive personal information to unfamiliar third-party entities, whose data handling and security practices are often unclear. Trust and transparency remain critical yet unresolved issues, potentially deterring users and compromising the effectiveness of these age checks.
The Global Picture: A Movement Gathering Pace
Looking beyond the UK, similar movements are gaining momentum internationally. Half of US states are introducing comparable legislation, and the European Union is considering EU-wide measures. Australia’s stringent new laws explicitly target social media platforms used by under-16s, imposing severe penalties for non-compliance. These examples underline a broader global commitment to digital child safety, but equally illuminate the common pitfalls and complexities inherent in such legislative endeavours.
Technological Solutions vs. Parental Responsibility
A crucial aspect raised by Craig is whether reliance on technology sufficiently addresses the core issues around online child safety. Age verification methods, while necessary, risk oversimplifying the complex nature of teenage autonomy, developmental needs, and individual family dynamics.
Craig strongly advocates for parental engagement and education, acknowledging that families face diverse circumstances. He stresses the necessity for nuanced solutions that blend responsible digital use, comprehensive digital literacy, and parental guidance rather than blunt technological interventions alone.
The VPN Conundrum
An alarming, yet predictable consequence of imposing rigid age restrictions is the rise of circumvention methods, most notably through Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). The UK’s recent experience, marked by a massive surge in VPN downloads post-regulation, illustrates a fundamental flaw in relying solely on technological barriers. Rather than educating users about responsible digital behaviour, blanket restrictions can unintentionally push activity underground, complicating rather than solving the original issue.
Aotearoa’s Unique Opportunity
New Zealand presently lacks a dedicated digital safety regulator, instead relying primarily on the Privacy Commission. Craig notes this approach lacks adequate enforcement capabilities, underscoring a significant gap in our domestic framework.
His critique points towards a clear and compelling direction for Aotearoa. Simple blanket bans and heavy-handed regulations are not effective solutions. Instead, we need locally developed, nuanced measures that reflect our unique social, cultural, and technological landscape. Craig highlights the importance of prioritising digital literacy strategies tailored specifically for our communities, particularly focusing on underrepresented groups such as women, Māori, and Pacific peoples.
Towards Nuanced, Localised Solutions
Craig’s perspective advocates strongly for a balanced, comprehensive approach to age verification. He argues against an overreliance on international tech giants’ frameworks and algorithms, urging instead for domestic solutions informed by New Zealand-specific insights. These should combine technological safeguards with robust educational frameworks, community engagement, and clear regulatory guidelines that respect privacy and foster trust.
Yet, while Craig lays out a compelling case for this balanced approach, several critical elements remain unresolved. Practical details—such as specific standards for third-party age verification services, comprehensive parental education resources, and strategies for managing compliance costs for small and medium-sized businesses—still require clear definition.
What Aotearoa Must Address
For Aotearoa to successfully navigate the complexities of online age verification, several points require urgent attention:
- Clearly defined standards and criteria for third-party age verification services to safeguard privacy and data security.
- Comprehensive resources and education programmes to empower parents and communities to manage online safety proactively.
- Detailed analysis and guidelines to help small and medium-sized enterprises comply without prohibitive costs or administrative burdens.
Craig Young’s leadership has laid a crucial foundation, clearly articulating the general direction New Zealand should take.
However, moving forward requires detailed planning, precise policy design, and thoughtful implementation strategies.
As Craig rightly notes, simplistic solutions will not suffice. We must delve deeper, engage broadly, and design nuanced solutions tailored specifically for our national context.
Supporting Craig’s Vision: A Collective Responsibility
Child safety online must transcend politics. This is not a partisan issue; it is a societal imperative that requires collective support and unified action. Aotearoa has an invaluable opportunity to learn from international examples, combining best practices with our own unique insights.
Craig Young’s informed and thoughtful advocacy provides an essential starting point. His vision—combining technology, education, community engagement, and tailored regulation—is exactly the balanced, comprehensive approach we need.
Let’s seize this opportunity to pioneer effective, respectful, and secure online age verification methods in Aotearoa. Together, we can create an environment where our children are protected, privacy is respected, and digital literacy becomes a universal cornerstone of our society.
This blog post is a collaborative creation by Alistair Fraser, with the innovative assistance of OpenAI’s ChatGPT 4.5 and 4.o, highlighting the synergy of human creativity and advanced AI technology.