Australia AI age verification law is entering a critical enforcement phase, and the country’s internet regulator has signaled it may go beyond AI companies themselves.

According to Reuters, Australia’s eSafety commissioner warned that search engines and app stores could be targeted if artificial intelligence services fail to verify user ages ahead of a looming compliance deadline. The move marks one of the most assertive regulatory pushes globally as governments grapple with concerns about AI’s impact on young users.

Australia AI age verification law Could Extend to Gatekeepers

Under the new rules, internet services operating in Australia — including AI-powered search tools such as ChatGPT and companion chatbots — must restrict users under 18 from accessing pornography, extreme violence, self-harm, and eating disorder content starting March 9.

Failure to comply could result in fines of up to A$49.5 million ($35 million).

A spokesperson for the eSafety commissioner said the regulator would use “the full range of our powers where there is non-compliance,” including action involving “gatekeeper services such as search engines and app stores that provide key points of access to particular services.”

The warning underscores the broader scope of the Australia AI age verification law, which is not limited to chatbot developers but could also affect the distribution channels that provide access to them.

Australia became the first country in December to ban social media for teenagers, citing mental health concerns. Officials now say they are spearheading a similar crackdown on AI by imposing age-based restrictions on accessible content.

From a policy perspective, this forms part of wider Australia AI regulation teen mental health efforts aimed at limiting exposure to harmful digital environments.

eSafety AI chatbot content restrictions minors Under Scrutiny

A Reuters review conducted a week before the deadline found that compliance remains uneven.

Out of the 50 most popular text-based AI products reviewed, only nine had rolled out or announced age assurance systems. The review examined platform responses to restricted content prompts, moderation policies, terms of service, and statements provided to Reuters.

Another 11 platforms had blanket content filters or planned to block all Australians from using their services, which would technically comply by preventing restricted content access entirely. That left 30 services with no apparent steps taken to meet the new rules.

Most large chat-based assistants — including ChatGPT, Replika, and Anthropic’s Claude — had begun introducing age assurance systems or blanket filtering. Character.AI restricted open-ended chat features for users under 18.

However, among companion chatbot providers, Reuters found that three-quarters had no functioning or planned filtering or age assurance systems. One-sixth did not publish an email address for reporting suspected breaches, which is also required under the code.

The eSafety AI chatbot content restrictions minors framework reflects concerns about how young users engage with interactive AI systems. The regulator said it had received reports of children as young as 10 using AI-powered chat tools for up to six hours a day.

The spokesperson added that eSafety was concerned some AI companies were leveraging emotional manipulation, anthropomorphism, and other techniques that could encourage excessive chatbot use among young people.

Industry Response and Global Implications

OpenAI and Character.AI have faced wrongful death lawsuits related to chatbot interactions with young users. Separately, OpenAI acknowledged it deactivated the ChatGPT account of a Canadian teen mass shooting suspect months before the attack, without informing authorities.

While Australia has not reported chatbot-linked violence or self-harm cases, regulators appear determined to act preemptively.

Apple, a leading app store operator, said on its website last week that it would use “reasonable methods” to prevent minors from downloading 18+ apps in Australia and other jurisdictions introducing age restrictions, though it did not specify those methods. Google, Australia’s dominant search engine provider and second-largest app store operator, declined to comment.

Jennifer Duxbury, head of policy at internet industry group DIGI and leader of the AI code drafting process, said eSafety was working to notify chatbot services about the rules. However, she emphasized that “any service operating in Australia is responsible for understanding its legal obligations and ensuring it meets them.”

Lisa Given, director of RMIT University’s Centre for Human-AI Information Environments, told Reuters that the findings were unsurprising because many AI tools are developed without sufficient consideration of potential harms or safety controls.

“It feels as though … we’re beta testing all of these things for these companies and they’re trying to see how far society is willing to be pushed,” she said.

As enforcement of the Australia AI age verification law approaches, the spotlight is now shifting toward whether app stores and search engines will be compelled to block non-compliant AI platforms — a move that could reshape how AI services are distributed in one of the world’s most proactive regulatory environments.