Good afternoon. The organisation behind the age assurance technology trial that will inform how to keep under-16s off social media has iced out key stakeholders after media leaks and resignations of two members.
Iain Corby, the executive director of the Age Verification Providers Association, has also downplayed reporting about inaccuracies with the facial estimation technology – one of the technologies tested in the trial – arguing that it can still be used even if it is out by seven years.
The trial, run by the UK-based Age Check Certification Scheme (ACCS), tested out various types of technology that could be used by social media platforms and adult websites to keep out under-16s or under-18s, respectively, when Australia’s ban comes into force in December.
The project provided its final report to the communications minister, Anika Wells, at the start of August. However, the stakeholder advisory board for the trial – which comprises tech companies, child safety advocates, academics and privacy advocates – may not see the final report until Wells releases it publicly in the coming weeks.
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Will the Aukus nuclear submarine program allow Australia to maintain security in its surrounding ocean, or is it $368bn thrown away on submarines that may never arrive and only serve to increase tensions in the region? It depends on who you ask. Guardian Australia senior reporter Ben Doherty explains the many questions surrounding the trilateral agreement.
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“You’ll always face a lot of challenges but those challenges are built on to your journey … take that risk, you won’t regret it in the end.” – Rutendo Shadaya
The 17-year-old from rural New Zealand, who turned a birthday present for her best friend into a series of children’s fantasy books, has been recognised along with nine other girls as one of Time magazine’s girls of the year for featuring strong female leads in her work, and for using her platform to lift up other budding writers.
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As Labor’s much-hyped economic summit begins, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, say they want to hear big ideas to bring about the reform Australians are hungry for. But does the government’s talk match its political ambition?
Reged Ahmad speaks to chief political correspondent Tom McIlroy about how Labor’s economic roundtable will shape the future of Australia
Before bed read
Quentin Tarantino has weighed in on one of cinema’s big questions: what is the best Tarantino movie? The director has named his “masterpiece” film and the one he was “born to make” – but he says his favourite is a different film entirely.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: FIG. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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