Headline: Google follows local laws.

Alternate-universe headline: Google uses monopolistic power to ignore government regulation for profit.

Which do you prefer?

How about: Australia forces company to comply with oppressive surveillance state restrictions, cynically deployed in the name of safety?

Maybe in an alternate reality where Rupert Murdoch was in the business of informing the people.

Byline: Uses uploaded validation beyond the scope of the law using their patented “improve our services” playbook. (from TFA)

Google is going too far.

If Google (in Australia) does use this information for any purpose other than confirming age then they have broken the law.

Google will also need to use this information to identify people making Youtube comments when those laws get passed and enforced.

They've already publicly stated that they will. There is no "if" in this case.

Google creating attention probably is best that short befor an election.