Update (September 2026)
Since publication, Australia has moved from planning to active implementation on age assurance. The federal government finalized the Age Assurance Framework guidance for high‑risk online services and expanded eSafetys enforcement budget beyond the previously cited AUD 99M, with targeted funds for compliance audits and sandbox trials. Major platforms operating in Australia have begun phased rollouts of age estimation and parental controls, with eSafety issuing new notices to verify uptake and accuracy claims. Separately, the government signaled draft legislation to mandate age assurance outcomes (not specific technologies) in 2027.
For Korea, the enforcement-first lesson is sharper: regulators are benchmarking Australias audit and notice powers while weighing interoperability with Koreas real‑name and youth protection regimes. Companies serving both markets should prepare for third‑party testing, transparency reporting on error rates, and penalties tied to demonstrated risk reduction rather than declared features.
