On October 13, 2025, Alphabet-owned Google stated that it would be "extremely difficult" to enforce a new Australian law that prohibits individuals under the age of 16 from using social media. The company warned that the government's initiative may not enhance the safety of children online. During a parliamentary hearing on online safety, Rachel Lord, YouTube's senior manager of government affairs in Australia, voiced concerns that while the program is well-intentioned, it could lead to "unintended consequences." The law, which is set to take effect in December, will require social media platforms to use artificial intelligence and behavioral data to infer the age of their users rather than mandating age verification procedures.