News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by LewisVerstappen on Sunday March 20, 2022 @10:38AM (#30742968)
>"If our systems are unable to establish that a viewer is above the age of 18, we will request that they provide a valid ID or credit card to verify their age.”

I don't think Google is complaining too much. Especially if it gives them an excuse to collect credit card data (reducing a significant amount of friction when they sell YouTube premium / google drive subscriptions).

Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by jimmaswell on Sunday March 20, 2022 @01:06PM (#30744408)
I had no idea you could actually use a credit card to verify age. I thought that was nothing but a scam employed by fraudulent cam/hookup sites and catfishers. Google probably shouldn't train people that this is a normal thing to do.
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by idiotsecant on Sunday March 20, 2022 @02:46PM (#30745384)
Does a credit card in fact verify age? Anyone at all can go buy a prepaid card at the grocery store, right?
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by adventured on Sunday March 20, 2022 @02:56PM (#30745468)
> Does a credit card in fact verify age? Anyone at all can go buy a prepaid card at the grocery store, right?

A prepaid card isn't a credit card. Payment processors can tell the difference between card types. You have to be 18 or older to get a credit card issued in your name (although you can add an underage authorized user to your card). And there are now other requirements needed if you're under 21 in the US, such as proof of income or a cosigner.

A prepaid card is also not a debit card (debit cards are attached to a bank account). To get a debit card you must be either 18 or have a legal guardian who is at least 18 on the account.

Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by notRobot on Sunday March 20, 2022 @03:59PM (#30746065)
> To get a debit card you must be either 18 or have a legal guardian who is at least 18 on the account.

I don't about the US or Australia, but this is definitely not true everywhere.

I know for a fact that in some countries children as young as 13 can have bank accounts and debit cards that are not linked to a guardian.

Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by Symbiote on Sunday March 20, 2022 @04:14PM (#30746173)
> To get a debit card you must be either 18 or have a legal guardian who is at least 18 on the account.

Not necessarily. You can be issued a debit card from age 11 in the UK, although it will only do online transactions to prevent the account going overdrawn.

Allowing a parent/guardian control of the account is optional.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/cards-for-under-18...

Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by NoPicklez on Sunday March 20, 2022 @07:04PM (#30747710)
But how do they verify that you are the name on the Credit Card without photo evidence? Could I just grab my parents card and say its mine?
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by shric on Monday March 21, 2022 @07:18AM (#30752676)
Yes, but parents have better reasons to stop their kids from seeing their credit card details than age verification...
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by NoPicklez on Wednesday March 23, 2022 @05:58AM (#30776799)
I'm not sure what your point is in relation to the discussion, of course they do.

But the discussion was around being able to use a credit card to verify that you're over the age of 18. My point being is that a credit card doesn't have a photo to verify that you are who the persons name is on the card.

Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by whimsicalism on Sunday March 20, 2022 @10:46AM (#30743028)
Not sure how you concluded that from this quote
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by RobertMiller on Sunday March 20, 2022 @11:04AM (#30743192)
A simple "the law requires us to" somewhere in that quote would have gone a long way to convey displeasure at their arm being twisted. But nothing in that quote suggests any arm twisting, and why should google of all corporations be given the benefit of the doubt? They look like eager and willing collaborators.
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by emteycz on Sunday March 20, 2022 @11:14AM (#30743283)
So why they didn't try to require ID for all the previous years until laws required it?
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by syshum on Sunday March 20, 2022 @01:55PM (#30744909)
Large Corporations will often have government enact laws they know would be unpopular policies for a variety of reasons... Many times companies will even publicly opposes the very laws they actually support behind the scenes.

Not saying that is the case here, but it pretty common for corporations to use government as their tool

Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by RobertMiller on Sunday March 20, 2022 @11:16AM (#30743301)
If they want us to believe they're displeased at this requirement, why don't they say so? Google has certainly complained and protested about other laws before.

> In response to multiple complaints we received under the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act, we have removed 15 results from this page. If you wish, you may read the DMCA complaints that caused the removals at LumenDatabase.org:

Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by MiroF on Sunday March 20, 2022 @11:22AM (#30743352)
You're comparing a quote from an article clearly being written in the context of this Australian law to the actual quote from Google's implementation of DMCa law. There is nothing in your quote indicating they are "protesting" DMCA law.

Here is the full quote.

> Over the coming month, we will also be introducing a new age assurance step on YouTube and Google Play. This added step is informed by the Australian Online Safety (Restricted Access Systems) Declaration, which requires platforms to take reasonable steps to confirm users are adults in order to access content that is potentially inappropriate for viewers under 18.

> This is in line with the actions we took in the European Union in response to the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD).

> As part of this process some Australian users may be asked to provide additional proof of age when attempting to watch mature content on YouTube or downloading content on Google Play. If our systems are unable to establish that a viewer is above the age of 18, we will request that they provide a valid ID or credit card to verify their age. We’ve built our age-verification process in keeping with Google’s Privacy and Security Principles.

Pulling out a quote and then saying "they don't mention the law", when they actually do mention the law a few lines above is frankly... a bad objection.

Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by RobertMiller on Sunday March 20, 2022 @11:26AM (#30743388)
They aren't required to disclose any DMCA removals, but choose to anyway, citing the law by name. Pointing out that a law is requiring them to do something is the least anybody can do if they object to that law's requirements. The omission of such a statement is sufficient evidence to conclude they are willing collaborators. A tech corporation like Google does not deserve the benefit of the doubt anyway.
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by MiroF on Sunday March 20, 2022 @11:27AM (#30743403)
Are you still not following that this "omission" is something you've entirely made up in your own mind by selectively copying one quote from an entire article?
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by RobertMiller on Sunday March 20, 2022 @11:29AM (#30743428)
The text you quoted does not seem to convey any displeasure at the law. Think what you like.

> This added step is informed by

Why so passive? Why not "required by"?

> We’ve built our age-verification process in keeping with Google’s Privacy and Security Principles.

Why not omit this apologia?

Also, that statement about the DMCA is on every single search page with DMCA omissions. Do you think Google is going to cite the ID law by name on every page requiring it? I guess we'll find out, but I'm not holding my breath for this.

Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by MiroF on Sunday March 20, 2022 @11:31AM (#30743463)
Wait, but they do point out the law requires them. And as you said,

> Pointing out that a law is requiring them to do something is the least anybody can do if they object to that law's requirements

Generally, I prefer comments blatantly contradicting each other to at least be a little more spaced out than yours are.

Have a good day.

Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by zuminator on Sunday March 20, 2022 @12:39PM (#30744173)
1) For Google to "complain" about the law and then still enforce it is just a toothless objection, virtue signaling. At least in the case of the LumenDatabase.org notice, their complaint actually serves a valid purpose of subverting the law (by allowing the user to see the offending domains.)

2) Google is a US corporation. If it is unhappy with US laws, it could be considered perhaps reasonable or even responsible for it to voice its concerns as a "corporate person" while it continues to fulfill its legal obligations. But it's a guest in Australia. If it doesn't want to obey the laws enacted by the people of Australia in Australia, it doesn't have to. After exhausting any judicial remedies, it can simply choose to leave Australia voluntarily. But to continue to reap Australian dollars while being demonstratively surly about it, could come across as disrespectful to the people of Australia. It would be as if someone came as a "plus one" to an exclusive party at your house, and then vocally complained the entire time that they were "forced" to remove their shoes.

Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by MomoXenosaga on Sunday March 20, 2022 @01:24PM (#30744558)
The credit-card as a viable ID is hilarious. I don't have a CC nor do I want one. So I just used someone else's so that Google doesn't bitch when I want to watch an 18 plus video.

I do have a passport that everyone is legally required to have in this country but trying to upload a picture of that was a fucking nightmare so I said fuck it take these numbers you clowns. Now if I can do this I'm sure every kid on the planet can just take their mom's CC so what is the point of this law anyway?

Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by cmckn on Sunday March 20, 2022 @11:07AM (#30743222)
Does google actually save this payment information for use in subsequent transactions? Or is it just used as part of the age verification process?
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by AlexCoventry on Sunday March 20, 2022 @12:41PM (#30744194)
In the article, someone from google claims the data will be deleted as soon as it has been used for verification, FWIW.
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by dessant on Sunday March 20, 2022 @02:08PM (#30745048)
They are lying. I have recently verified my age on YouTube with a credit card, and they've created a payments profile without my consent. I have discovered what happened a couple of weeks later when I've signed up for Google Cloud and my payment data was already listed in the form of a payments profile that could be selected.
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by jotm on Sunday March 20, 2022 @01:09PM (#30744438)
I'll guess that they will be using an automated system, i.e. no human eyes involved. Which isn't that much better, I guess.

I'd say it's best to photoshop the info/photo, because "deleting" the photo doesn't mean they won't scrape it first.

Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by cute_boi on Sunday March 20, 2022 @11:44AM (#30743620)
Should we even guess? Google is already trying hard to store payment information filled in form.
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by seanmcdirmid on Sunday March 20, 2022 @11:47AM (#30743640)
Chrome will save credit card data on request, it’s incredibly convenient if you do a lot of online food ordering.
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by cute_boi on Monday March 21, 2022 @09:06AM (#30753657)
Yes

"Google seems to have signed me up for Google Pay without asking" https://twitter.com/paulg/status/1504079288051589120

This was on hacker news.

Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by Drdrdrq on Sunday March 20, 2022 @12:49PM (#30744258)
Convenience is often the biggest enemy of privacy.
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by seanmcdirmid on Sunday March 20, 2022 @02:47PM (#30745392)
The current system where we can choose between security and convenience is good enough for me. I loath those who would take that choice away from me.
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by Drdrdrq on Sunday March 20, 2022 @04:26PM (#30746268)
First of all, I said privacy, not security. Huge difference.

That aside, I am not advocating for less choice, merely observing that in many cases users willingly give up their privacy (or other rights) for convenience. Your reaction to my observation actually proves my point.

Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by dudul on Sunday March 20, 2022 @12:01PM (#30743784)
The answer to "does Google save X?" is "yes" for all possible values of X.
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by BiteCode_dev on Sunday March 20, 2022 @04:54PM (#30746517)
Which is not a good proof. You can use one from somebody else, it doesn't prove that it's yours. Only that you have access to it. As long as you don't make any paiement, I suppose you will be fine.
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by bushbaba on Sunday March 20, 2022 @11:32AM (#30743477)
Also lets them easily join in credit card purchases to user info.
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by lern_too_spel on Sunday March 20, 2022 @11:04AM (#30743189)
Google could have required people to enter credit card details to download apps at all on their phones, following the precedent Apple had already set. That hasn't happened.
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by reaperducer on Sunday March 20, 2022 @11:14AM (#30743289)
following the precedent Apple had already set

This is false.

You don't need to give Apple a credit card to download apps. You do need an iTunes account, which can be created without a credit card (I have two with no cards attached).

If you only download free apps, you're good. You can fund the account with PayPal or gift cards if you choose to download paid apps.

Try to refrain from making stuff up in your defense of Google.

Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by umbauk on Sunday March 20, 2022 @11:58AM (#30743757)
I set up my 9 year old's apple watch yesterday. I had to enter my credit card details to add it to my Family. I didn't have to do this when linking my child's fitbit.
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by lern_too_spel on Sunday March 20, 2022 @12:07PM (#30743840)
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251793338 no longer requires a credit card after iOS 6 but is still heavy on dark patterns. A credit card isn't even asked for when creating a Google account at all. My point is that Apple either requires or tricks you into giving a credit card to use Apple services, and the only reason this is a big issue for Google is that many Google accounts don't have a credit card already.
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by digitallyfree on Sunday March 20, 2022 @11:38AM (#30743548)
iOS does not require CC info to download free apps. It's only needed to pay for paid apps (same as Android).
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by lern_too_spel on Sunday March 20, 2022 @12:04PM (#30743804)
This is not straightforward on iOS, even after iOS 6 stopped strictly requiring it. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251793338
Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by digitallyfree on Sunday March 20, 2022 @12:57PM (#30744329)
Ah I created the account on the device during initial setup, so that explains why I was never asked for CC info. Though from reading through the help page it appears they have an option for "none" for CC info when you create the account later. There are no screenshots on the page but I found some on Youtube.

https://imgur.com/a/9v1bkle

Re:Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view ... by citizenpaul on Sunday March 20, 2022 @11:19AM (#30743330)
They don't do that out of benevolence. The reality is they know a huge portion of their customer base are already on the lower income side. If required that info upfront they would lose millions of customers. Never underestimate how many people live on the fringes of society. No bank account, no credit cards, no offical address.

Also worth remembering that selling you stuff is not how google makes most of their money. The sell you as a product. The more people they have on their system the more money they make even if they are not buying anything.

I've had an android phone for many years without ever putting in a CC to the play store. I've bought apps though through Fdroid though.