Government officials have confirmed an age assurance pilot will be conducted within the communications departmentOfficials say their assessment of existing technology will inform future policies on online safety
But under questioning at Senate estimates, officials at the communications department said social media platforms would not actually be asked to test any technologies, and indicated they would not be developing any technology to trial. "We're undertaking the assessment process … to ensure that the technology is effective for age assurance, so that's really important, we want to make sure it works," deputy secretary James Chisholm responded.
Department officials said a key element of the trial would be determining not just the "gold standard" of age assurance technology, but also willingness for it to be adopted.