[karpierz]

Headline: Google follows local laws.

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

Which do you prefer?

[hackyhacky]

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

[karpierz]

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

[falcolas]

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

Google is going too far.

[nhinck2]

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

[stubish]

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

[falcolas]

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