A government report has raised concerns over selfie-based age-verification software intended to enforce Australia’s social media ban for under-16s starting December. While generally fast and privacy-conscious, the system struggles near the 16-year threshold, especially for non-Caucasian users, females, and those close to the cut-off. Sixteen-year-olds had an 8.5 percent chance of being misidentified as underage, highlighting the need for backup methods like ID checks or parental consent, according to Reuters.

Platforms such as Instagram and YouTube must show adequate measures to block underage users or face fines up to A$49.5 m ($32m). Experts warn the short timeline and accuracy variation pose challenges, though effective, privacy-conscious options exist. The report underscores that age-verification tools can help but are not foolproof.