An Australian Broadcasting Authority official has noted that Australia’s new regulations for online content may require a restricted access system. Users trying to access certain material may be required to submit personally identifying information, including their name, address, date of birth, email address, and credit card details or digital signature as proof of age. Since the material in question is anything likely to be classified ‘R’ by the Classification Board, users are not likely to be thrilled about identifying themselves. Expect privacy advocates in Australia and elsewhere to be outraged – and ignored. The ABA intends to commence discussions with Standards Australia to develop specifications/criteria for this purpose, wrote the ABA’s Jon Porter. Those specifications aren’t likely to be ready for January 1, 2000, when the new regulations are scheduled to take effect. That’s not a reprieve, however. Porter says the ABA has plans for an interim age verification scheme. á
