I, Julie Inman Grant, eSafety Commissioner, make the following instrument.
Dated 13 January 2022
Julie Inman Grant
eSafety Commissioner
Contents
Part 1 —Preliminary
1 Name
2 Commencement
3 Authority
4 Definitions
Part 2 —Restricted access systems for relevant class 2 material
5 Specified access‑control systems for relevant class 2 material
6 Applying for access to relevant class 2 material
7 Provision of warnings
8 Confirmation of age
9 Limiting access to relevant class 2 material
Part 1—Preliminary
1 Name
This Declaration is the Online Safety (Restricted Access Systems) Declaration 2022.
2 Commencement
(1) Each provision of this Declaration specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.
Commencement information
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3
Provisions Commencement Date/Details
The whole of the Declaration The later of:(a) the start of the day after this Declaration is registered; and(b) the commencement of the Online Safety Act 2021.However, the provision(s) do not commence at all if the event mentioned in paragraph (b) does not occur.
Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Declaration as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Declaration.
(2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Declaration. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Declaration.
3 Authority
This Declaration is made under subsection 108(1) of the Online Safety Act 2021.
4 Definitions
In this Declaration:
Act means the Online Safety Act 2021.
applicant means a person who makes a request for access to relevant class 2 material under section 6.
relevant class 2 material means class 2 material covered by paragraphs 107(1)(f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k) or (l) of the Act.
Note: A number of expressions used in this Declaration are defined in the Act, including the following: (a) access-control system; (b) class 2 material;
(c) designated internet service; (d) material; (e) provider; (f) provided;
(g) relevant electronic service; (h) restricted access system; and
(i) social media service.
Part 2—Restricted access systems for relevant class 2 material
5 Specified access-control systems for relevant class 2 material
An access-control system is specified as a restricted access system in relation to relevant class 2 material if the access-control system:
(a) requires an application for access to relevant class 2 material, as described in section 6; and
(b) gives warnings and safety information for relevant class 2 material, as required by section 7; and
(c) incorporates reasonable steps to confirm the age of applicants, as required by section 8; and
(d) limits access to relevant class 2 material, as required by section 9.
6 Applying for access to relevant class 2 material
(1) The access-control system must require an applicant who seeks access to relevant class 2 material:
(a) to apply for access; and
(b) to submit a declaration that the applicant is at least 18 years of age.
(2) An application under paragraph 6(1)(a) must be made:
(a) in writing; or
(b) in electronic form; or
(c) orally.
(3) A declaration under paragraph 6(1)(b) must be provided:
(a) in writing; or
(b) in electronic form.
7 Provision of warnings
For each application for access under section 6, the access-control system must give to the applicant:
(a) a warning about the nature of relevant class 2 material; and
(b) either:
safety information about how a parent or guardian may control access to relevant class 2 material by persons under 18 years of age; or
a link to this information on the social media service, relevant electronic service, or designated internet service through which access to the relevant class 2 material is provided.
8 Confirmation of age
(1) The access‑control system must incorporate reasonable steps to confirm that an applicant is at least 18 years of age.
(2) If the applicant has previously submitted to:
(a) the provider of the social media service, relevant electronic service, or designated internet service through which access to the relevant class 2 material is provided; or
(b) a person acting on behalf of that provider,
information which confirms that the applicant is at least 18 years of age, the access-control system is not required to take any further steps to confirm the applicant’s age in order to provide access to relevant class 2 material.
9 Limiting access to relevant class 2 material
The access-control system must only provide access to relevant class 2 material if:
(a) the access-control system has:
(i) verified that, at the time the applicant applies for access to the material, the applicant has applied for access and submitted a declaration as described in section 6; and
(ii) given the warning and safety information described in section 7 to the applicant; and
(iii) verified that the applicant has met the confirmation of age requirements as described in section 8; or
(b) the applicant has been provided with a Personal Identification Number or other means of limiting access to the material that enables the access-control system to verify that the applicant has previously:
(i) applied for access and submitted a declaration as described in section 6; and
(ii) been given the warning and safety information described in section 7; and
(iii) met the confirmation of age requirements described in section 8.