Key Facts:
Survey says more than half of Australians don't know they'll soon need to undergo age checks to use search engines.
Survey exposes urgent need for immediate action
Online life to be significantly changed for all Australians
Western Australia's only independent Senator, Fatima Payman, is calling for clarity from the government and an urgent public awareness campaign about new age-checking laws hitting the internet in December this year.
According to polling from YouGov commissioned by the University of Canberra's News & Media Research Centre, which was reported by Crikey, more than half of Australians have no idea that age checks will soon be required to use search engines.
"It's an astounding figure that shows how unprepared we are for these new laws that will change online life for all Australians," Senator Payman said.
"It's a significant imposition on us all.
"Can you imagine the confusion when people try to do a normal Google search in just a few months, and find they have to suddenly supply ID or a selfie to get access to the search?" she asked.
"And more than half of us don't know the change is coming.
"Australian consumers have a right to know how and when such important changes to their lives are going to happen, and it is incumbent on the government to let us all know exactly how, and exactly why this is playing out.
"It's all too rushed and too piecemeal.
According to the report, the survey of 1,501 voters between the 12th and 18th of September, 46% of voters said they were aware of the upcoming requirements for search engines.
"If the government wants to avoid the confusion and anger this is likely to generate, then they should immediately clarify this initiative, and how it will work, to the public.
"We need an urgent public education campaign about it.
In addition to a general lack of knowledge about the changes, the survey found that just 38% or respondents said they were either very comfortable or comfortable with search engines checking users' ages.
Age checks on Google and other search engines are required from the 10th of December this year.
"It's just another example of how this government is trying to force its online agenda onto an unsuspecting public," Senator Payman said.
The Senator is available
