‘Creeping Authoritarianism’: Motion Against Search Engine Age Checks Passes Senate

The successful motion brought left, right, and centrist politicians together in a unified vote.

A teen holds a smartphone and prepares to do a search on Google, where trending search terms are showing, in Sarasota, Fla., on Aug. 18, 2023. Nanette Holt/The Epoch Times

An urgent motion to prevent search engine users from being subject to age verification has passed Australia’s Senate with sweeping support from across the political spectrum.

Put forth by United Australia Party Senator Ralph Babet, the motion was supported by the right-wing One Nation party, the centre-right Coalition, and the far-left Greens.