Australia asks GitHub if it's a dangerous social network

"Australia's eSafety Commissioner has written to GitHub to ask it to consider if it's a social network that endangers children. The reason for the cyber-safety regulator's correspondence is Australia's imminent requirement that some social media platforms restrict access to Australian residents under 16 years of age, on the grounds that such services can be harmful to children. The ban on providing service to kids under 16 starts on December 10th,"

"At first glance, GitHub will not have to deny service to Australians under 16 years of age, because the criteria that require a platform to do so are: Having the sole, or a significant purpose, of enabling online social interaction between two or more end-users; Allowing users to link to, or interact with, other end-users; Allowing users to post material on the service; Hosting material that is accessible to, or delivered to, end-users in Australia."

"GitHub's purpose is not to enable social interaction. However, the platform is not always a safe space, as GitHub allows comments and developers can be brutal to each other. The site can also host images, and the GitHub Pages service allows users to create websites based on their repos. So there's plenty of potential for GitHub to host revolting material that could be bad for kids."

The eSafety Commissioner has asked GitHub to consider whether GitHub qualifies as a social network that endangers children. Australia will require certain social media platforms to restrict access to residents under 16 from December 10. The eSafety Commission identifies platforms that meet statutory conditions and has told many services to complete a self-assessment to determine obligations under the Online Safety Act. The statutory criteria include enabling social interaction, linking or interacting between end-users, allowing user-posted material, and hosting material accessible in Australia. GitHub's primary purpose is not social interaction, but comments, images and GitHub Pages can host harmful material for children.

Read at Theregister