This article first appeared on GuruFocus .
Alphabet Inc. ( GOOGL , Financials ) said that planned internet safety laws in Australia might require its Google business to prohibit anyone under 18 from using Gmail and other online communication services.Under the Digital Duty of Care law, internet corporations would need to do more to stop harmful information or face fines of as much as A$109 million ($75.1 million).The proposal has cleared the House of Representatives in Australia but still requires Senate approval.Private chat, email and file storage may also be subject to age-verification rules, Google's head of YouTube policy in Australia and New Zealand, Rachel Lord, told MPs.She cautioned that compliance might include intrusive surveillance of private correspondence.Representatives from Meta Platforms, TikTok and Snap voiced similar worries about the bill's wide definition of harmful content.Tech firms warn regulatory uncertainty might force them to remove too much information to avoid penalties.The Australian government says comprehensive protections are needed to make the internet safer.The plan might provide regulatory issues for Alphabet and restrict access to services utilized by younger clients.But there has been no disclosure of any financial damage and the limits on Gmail are not yet in place.The next trigger is if the Australian Senate will adopt the measure and if legislators will change its age-verification standards.
