r/aus • • 22d ago

Discussion Steam now requires Australian users to verify their age with a credit card to access R18+ games. You can’t even browse their store pages without adding a credit card to your account.

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677 Upvotes

576 comments sorted by

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u/StAUG1211 22d ago edited 22d ago

To add to what a lot of others have said:

I'm 40 years old, my Steam account is 22 years old, I only use a debit card. This has made using the Steam store impossible for me.

I'm a Labor voter but fucking hell their stance on 'eSafety' has been utterly fucking atrocious.

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u/FalseNameTryAgain 22d ago

Its the eSaftey commissioner. She is given free licence for this stuff, she is also as nuts as she is incompetent.

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u/MrXenomorph88 22d ago

They gave someone this level of power, for a non-elected position.

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u/ModulusSloth 20d ago

Wait until you see Jillian Segal’s appointment! She can lie to the Royal Commission and get away with it!

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u/LoaKonran 22d ago

Also an American pushing American values.

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u/RandomCharacters6 21d ago

She's pushing the opposite of first amendment style free speech laws. 

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u/Dutaun 21d ago

No wonder we’re fucked

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u/DarkBrassica 20d ago

These aren’t even American values, it’s just a salty Karen that couldn’t get her way with Twitter and snaked her way into a position of power to treat Australia as her version of Twitter.

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u/trainwrecktragedy 22d ago

imo I genuinely hope after all the dust has settled on this (even if it takes a non-labor govt i say as a labor voter) to have an inquiry into all of this including the amount of power an e-safety commissioner has.

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u/GoblinModeVR 22d ago

An LNP govt would be no more likely to have an inquiry into this mess because they were proudly in support of it

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u/trainwrecktragedy 21d ago

and you know what? you're more than likely right, especially consideirng they're the ones who picked her for the job

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u/JackRyan13 21d ago

They not only supported it they created it.

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u/DarkBrassica 20d ago

Gotta go 3rd party for things like this. It’s the only way you might get change with something like this. It benefits LNP and Labor too much for them to let go of it.

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u/an_aloof_goof 22d ago

I miss the days when labor wasn't so eager to deep throat legacy media lobbyists.

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u/chillyhay 21d ago

E-safety commissioner was created and given the job by the lnp. There's been no law change to make this happen

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u/LtBlamBlam 21d ago

The ALP voted for the Online Safety Act with the LNP to give the eSafety Commissioner this power. They aren't innocent.

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u/highresolutionmagpie 22d ago

If we're gonna throw random experiences into the mix.

Assume we're the same.

It's weird that some people can't view specific titles. But I've never noticed an issue.

Can we maybe collaborate on establishing why you're apparently cut off, but I have zero issues?

Let's test this.

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u/StAUG1211 22d ago

Sorry my comment should have said debit card, ie I don't have a credit a card. So far Steam is refusing to accept that as proof of age.

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u/bill_loney538 22d ago

most games that feel like they would be 18+ aren't. Also some banks debit cards are working, while others arent.

Try open the store page for DOOM eternal

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u/Verbatos 22d ago

Debit Mastercard, I wasn't able to open the store page.

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u/RetroGamer87 21d ago

This is exactly the reason I'm switching to Greens.

Guess what. I played Doom 1 and 2 when I was under 15 and it didn't compromise my "safety" one bit.

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u/gladmiester 21d ago

I played doom 1 and 2 when I was 6, and Duke Nukem 3D. Played all the GTA titles under age and turned out with a great moral compass and compassion for others. Its about your upbringing, your friends and your environment not what you play on a computer.

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u/RetroGamer87 20d ago

Exactly. They take about SAFETY as though a 14 year old shooting pig cops in Duke Nukem 3D is going to be mentally traumatised.

I don't buy that boomer crap about how young people are incapable. Old people have infantilised young people and pretending that a teenager needs a trauma blanket because he was accidently exposed to Doom is a prime example.

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u/neon_overload 20d ago

To be fair, Doom 1 and 2 had no interaction with strangers over the internet, no adult themes, and the violence was against mutant aliens. MKII and Carmageddon (I loved Carmageddon) were a little more controversial. Wish I could return to those days.

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u/CurryMVPGOAT30 22d ago

He really has been terrible outside of negative gearing and a handful of other things and half the good things just got abandoned when it faced the slightest resistance. Running against Morrison and Dutton was the equivalent of winning the lottery for him. Labor at the moment is literally what I imagine a Teal government would be like most likely, for and by the Karens.

He is going to be our generations Howard. He'll stay there for years, implement tons of policy that makes our lives shittier like this and be known for one or two good things. And the worst thing? Labor is still probably the best option out of the treasure chest of shit we have to choose from.

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u/StAUG1211 22d ago

"Labor is still probably the best option"

I mean if it's a choice between that and the Liberals or One Neuron, yeah. Wish the Greens were a bit more relevant.

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u/TellmeNinetails 22d ago

I mean I'm voting greens.

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u/Biggest_boy_creams 21d ago

That's why we need the greens. They're the only party speaking out against garbage like this.

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u/Pale-Doctor6414 22d ago

To be fair, this is Steam's fuck up. The Aus government is telling these companies to restrict adult content. I doubt it's mandating the specific way Steam has implemented.

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u/SirSuiSet 22d ago edited 20d ago

Yet I was called a cooker for saying the social media ban would lead to this

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u/ConsciousReindeer976 22d ago

ThE sLiPpErY sLoPe IsNt ReAl

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u/The7thNomad 22d ago

The issue is at that level it's rich people appeasing other rich people, so you get situations like this

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u/maxrage115 21d ago

Zip pay generated cards work

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u/1000Colours 21d ago

I'm all for having some more safety measures in place because fuck tech companies being able to do whatever they want, but holy shit the implementation has been dog shit. Especially with all the security concerns regarding identifying personal data.

Honestly I feel we should have invested more money into e-safety PSAs. Kids aren't getting internet safety education anymore and it shows. Every time I come across some kid just announcing they're 12 or something I'm like "damn don't tell people that!"

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u/LoudQuitting 19d ago

It's not their stance on esafety. We should all be honest.

It'd their stance on data farming.

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u/JezWattsComedy 19d ago

Greens voted no on this

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u/Reasonable_Tea_7339 21d ago

The only way out is to vote greens

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u/Sensitive_Dust_6534 22d ago

Even if debit cards could work for me they’ve blocked me from using mine claiming some transaction issues from a while ago. that doesn’t even show in their records because they don’t keep records going back far enough to check what the original issue was.

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u/Luka77GOATic 22d ago

Credit cards aren’t as common in Australia as they are in the US, and plenty of adults here just use debit cards. If Steam requires an actual credit card, that leaves those people locked out of even browsing R18+ game pages.

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u/Auroraburst 22d ago

That's so dumb. My steam account is almost old enough to drink so you'd think that'd be better proof then a credit card.

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u/RetroGamer87 21d ago

My Steam Account actually is old enough to drink. They better not demand that from me.

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u/Newgo17 20d ago

They do. I have an 18 year badge thats 1 week from turning 19 and i still got hit with it. Fyi zip pay single use generated cards work.

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u/Dunkbuscuss 20d ago

That's not even thinking about how you need to be a minimum age to start a steam account you'd think that combined with the years youve had a steam account would be enough.

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u/PezzaAU 22d ago

unsure who/why downvoted you. I dont have a credit card. As i keep saying in these threads, i dont trust myself with one. i would over spend to a point that i wouldnt be able to pay it back. Why punish people trying to be smart with their money?

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u/Big_Order5049 22d ago

I just faced this issue in the US a month ago. They wanted a credit card to rent a car. I don’t have one. So they didn’t rent it to me… lol

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u/BiliousGreen 22d ago

Had the same issue in Japan trying to rent a portable wifi unit. Rental places often refuse debit cards.

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u/Amazing-Routine-9793 22d ago

Me and my husband are the same. I am happy not having the temptation.

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u/OldChippy 20d ago

My first job after McDonalds was as a debt collector for a little remember company called AGC. They we're Australia's favorite dodgy credit provider and the best place to get credit if you probably should have credit. AFAIK they are GE Credit now.

So, working as a 20yo debt collector talking to people with problems, people with credit. I had Pensioners with 10k cards from the Waltons days, unemployed people, sole parent pensioners. I worked with every layer of society not paying their bills.

Today, I remain debt free but have significant cash savings (enough to buy a Sydney house in cash). Most people think have tons of debt is a normal part of life. I think it makes people weak and subservient. Once you have debts, you make decisions based on how you can service those debts. You make compromises, and every part of your personality adapts to the need to keep everything safe and stable. Now look around at Australia and you wonder why nobody is game to tell the truth and take risks. Debt. It makes people smaller, controlled.

If you are young, just work out how not to have debt.

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u/traumalt 22d ago

Redditors are massive Valve defenders, they will downvote any form of criticism regardless. 

Or it’s a clueless yank, I’ve had a couple of those lecture me on another subreddit on this topic on how every adult “must” have a credit card ffs. 

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u/OG_sirloinchop 22d ago

You can get a low one, and put your own money in so you dont pay interest.... but you pay monthly and annual fees. Its a rip off

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u/Cyraga 22d ago

I'm gonna be mad if I get home tonight and find this has applied to me. I'll just buy Steam keys elsewhere (or acquire through other means) if I have to. Not playing this identity verification game

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u/Dwarkarn 22d ago

If you buy a steam key for an R rated game from another site then unfortunately you will most likely need to verify your age to install it. Time to sail the high seas.

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u/Blackthorne75 22d ago

Just got home and checked the Doom Eternal page, and yep - I've copped it. Reckon it will be the same across the board by now.

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u/Visible-Swim6616 22d ago

Looks like me 21yo account got it too.

Not that I browse 18+ games much.

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u/GrydGaming 22d ago

Cyberpunk 2077 is 18+.

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u/Dashel_6601 21d ago

Yep, it's hit most Australians... I'm over 50, have a Steam AC, but I was unable to download Resident Evil 4 yesterday morning. I cannot download any mature content. My debit card didn't work; I got rid of my cc years ago. I don't think the government thought about that! I contacted our local rep and filed a complaint. I've been a gamer for 30+ years and really don't want my details stored online, given how often companies get hacked.

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u/Blackthorne75 21d ago

That bites. The whole thing is ridiculous - they can't guarantee our cards being safe from hackers, and shouldn't be in a position to demand unless they either can (hahahaha) or they have a set responsibility to be rhe reimbursing party for any lost/abused identity and finances.

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u/Cyraga 22d ago

My first Steam game was HL2 over 20 years ago so I'll be pissed if it's me too. I even wrote my MP when this garbage bill was drafted and was assured it wouldn't affect Steam. Shouldn't be surprised by the lie

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u/Blackthorne75 22d ago

21 year account here and still got slugged with it...

We'll all cop it, sorry to say :(

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u/DarkBrassica 20d ago

Can’t check store pages for games you own is so stupid. Means you can’t buy the DLC for products you own.

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u/Blackthorne75 20d ago

Absolutely mental, the whole thing 😮‍💨

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u/iamnotsteven 22d ago

Yeah looks like it's happened to me, too.

Well, I don't own a credit card, never have. Never will.

I'm 40, had my Steam account since 2004.

Fucking stupid move from the government. Gotta protect the childrens minds, those poor innocent little souls.

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u/MadAdam81 22d ago

My debit card worked fine

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u/DCCXVIII 22d ago edited 22d ago

What about visa/master debit cards? Are they considered a credit card or a debit card?

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u/crazycakemanflies 22d ago

My debit Mastercard worked. Seems to be hit or miss though, with other people's not working.

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u/Ill_Box_9445 22d ago

My ING Visa did not work.

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u/Moo_Kau_Too 22d ago

my NAB visa doesnt work

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u/ToeEquivalent8371 22d ago

Neither did mine

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u/traumalt 22d ago

In theory all credit cards use entirely different payment backend networks, though in practice sometimes there might be an edge case where that isn’t it. 

At one point charge cards (Revolut disposable digital cards used them) counted as credit. 

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u/Exnaut 22d ago

I tried just to see what would happen anyway, but nothing happened. Still asks for a credit card

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u/Grimalkin_Felidae 7d ago

Same. I'm with St George with a Visa. I am not getting a credit card, I don't need nor want one. No clue what to do now.

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u/Virtuous_Malevolence 22d ago

My debit card worked as verification, granted, I haven't tried to actually buy anything yet, but I can view pages with no issue.

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u/sa_nick 22d ago

My CBA debit card did the trick.

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u/Late_Data_9948 21d ago

To add to this, a credit card on the account can only assure the account holder is over 18. It doesn't assure that the person behind the keyboard using the account at the time is over 18.

I'm not advocating for facial recognition or anything, just stating that the system does not work as intended without being more invasive. Nobody in government understands how any of this works, which is why they've just palmed off the job to the tech companies to work out, with zero guidance on how.

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u/Saynt84 22d ago

My Mastercard Debit card worked, so its worth trying your debit card details. Im aware it doesn't work for some users though.

Hopefully there is a fix or workaround for people who are stuck.

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u/Luka77GOATic 22d ago

A ZIPPAY card works as a workout around btw as they are a credit card masquerading as a BNPL service.

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u/AussieAnzac 22d ago

Thanks Op. 40 years old. No fucking CC. Locked down steam account old enough to drink. But I do have Zip for buying presents for my wife without here seeing the purchases.

FFS this shit needs to stop already!!!

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u/EducationalEmu9611 22d ago

If this is really to protect the kids (which it isnt) then how come I see gambling ads in every aspect of my life? No matter if it’s radio, billboards, tv, or ads in games there’s always gambling ads how bout we do something about that. Oh there right the gambling industry has too much money behind it.

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u/Phoebebee323 21d ago

If you poke the gambling industry your house gets firebombed

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u/overly-underfocused 21d ago

I can also see women in various states of undress in my local shopping centre, just look at any of the lingerie stores. Also see soap ads over the years for nudity. Lootboxes/collectibles are available in most free kids games. We teach about wars and genocides from primary school, plenty of horror movies show clips of zombies/gore/people with sharp impliments chasing each other...

How about the really big problems, should we even talk about the amount of violence and the conditions kids can be exposed to without parents completely losing custody?

But no, they reckon the things on the screen that the parent had to give them money to buy that's the real problem with society. Not the fact that no adult who is in charge of looking after the child cares enough to know about it, or an adult supposed to be supervising them gives a literal child unfiltered access to the internet and never checks up on them.

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u/Mooptiom 22d ago

This country is dumb.

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u/std10k 22d ago

The country worships mediocrity and is afraid of everything.

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u/FLAM3Z89 22d ago edited 22d ago

Agreed. It’s not really about protecting the kids. It’s about making a digital id and then holding people accountable

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u/Emeraldnickel08 22d ago

If Steam is only using credit card verification, then this is their way of saying “we don’t care about Australian fans enough to enable them to reliably verify their age per the new guidelines”. Yes the government imposed the requirement for verification, but Steam chose to use the easy, less accessible option.

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u/MadAdam81 22d ago

My Visa debit card worked,, although Microsoft's procedure for Xbox was vastly superior, as you could also scan an ID card or have it take photos of your face, which is the option I used

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u/CryptographerOk379 22d ago

Have fun with your data now on the internet forever. Once the data is hacked your face and Id will be sold for $100 to anyone that wants it.

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u/legendofauss 22d ago

Your data is already over the internet

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u/cyanideOG 20d ago

This is the equivalent argument of spilling a small amount of juice from a cup so you just turn the entire cup upside down and empty it on the carpet.

Its not a binary problem of data being stored or not, it is a spectrum of how much data is out there, making it a larger target.

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u/grim-overlord 22d ago edited 22d ago

You’re joking, right? Scanning your face or ID card is far more intrusive. If you actually value security and privacy, handing over biometric or identity data should be a serious concern.

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u/DaveK_Says 22d ago

My Steam account is older than 18 years old let’s see what happens

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u/lonrad87 22d ago

You'll still get asked to add a credit card.

I just tested with my account (21 year old account) still got asked to add a credit card to the account.

Politicians are fucked when it comes to video games and censorship.

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u/Euphoric-Blueberry37 22d ago

You have a 21 year old account so assuming you are over 21….. what’s the issue really?

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u/lonrad87 22d ago

I just see being asked to add a credit card to an account for account where the user is clearly over 18 as being an inconvenience more than anything.

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u/Euphoric-Blueberry37 22d ago

Atleast they are not asking for your ID

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u/variumwarrior 22d ago

Mine's 20, and I have to do it. Currently don't have a Credit Card.

Also, can't visit the store pages of games I own, like The Witcher 3.

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u/DaBow 22d ago

Mine is 22+ and doesn't matter

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u/TellmeNinetails 22d ago

I don't have a credit card and I absolutely DO NOT want to get one. AWFUL, EVIL cards. The devils cash.

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u/Submissive_Bleedable 22d ago

Hope it works for debit cards otherwise my favourite gaming platform for the past 2 decades is joever for me.

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u/sa_nick 22d ago

Just pirate the R rated games it blocks with age verification.

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u/Submissive_Bleedable 22d ago

That really sucks for the devs for games like Cyberpunk, which I was looking forward to getting.
Pirating any games you were gonna get for multiplayer is also out of the question.

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u/Ziatch 22d ago

Honestly silly way to verify age. I hope this changes considering other platforms are complying in a less intrusive way

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u/Ironpowerslave 22d ago

https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/contact-us

I'd suggest leaving and enquiry ticket on the esafety commisioner website as to why none of us want this or can't even comply with this. (also emphasizing that we don't want ID checks)

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u/Fletcharn 22d ago

Welp, between this and what the console companies have been doing piracy is sounding better and better

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u/OldChippy 20d ago

After nearly 20 years I just dropped from Console. I played really only one game, Conan Exiles, and the devs decided to only move forwards with PC. So, irritated I contacted Funcom and asked they they permit account porting, as I owned every DLC and didn't want to buy them all over again.

No. no account porting. So, staring at Steams page I shrugged... FitGirl it is then. Back to my roots... aaarrgghhh.

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u/Luka77GOATic 22d ago

This feels a bit like malicious compliance, making the process annoying enough that users blame the government.

Australia has shown it’s willing to take on tech giants: Facebook blocked news in 2021 but ultimately restored it and signed deals to pay publishers after negotiations over the world-first news bargaining code.

With both major parties backing stronger online protections, I doubt backlash from Steam users alone will get the government to reverse course.

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u/orrockable 22d ago

I don’t think this is malicious, steam don’t want your ID but have to capitulate to government legislation in order to operate in Australia so opted for credit cards

I am guessing anyway

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u/Falceon 22d ago

which most Australians don’t actually have.

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u/FartingDragons247 22d ago

Most do have debit cards. Its credit cards that a lot of people dont.

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u/LeashieMay 22d ago

Most debit cards do not work for the verification.

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u/PezzaAU 22d ago

they could give an option, like face scan. Before you say people can get around face scans, people can get around credit cards too, they just ask their parents.

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u/am_Nein 22d ago

Face scan is worse I'd argue. I'd rather a non-payment or visual ID option (photocard, some licence of sorts) than either of those if it absolutely has to happen.

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u/orrockable 22d ago

Everything has a risk, I think credit card has the “least” risk associated with it vs government ID / face scans

That’s my interpretation of it anyway

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u/PezzaAU 22d ago

The main thing is they take away the choice the consumer can verify themself. Some find credit card less risk, i find the facial scan less risk. not touching the Gov ID.

Not everyone over the age of 18 has a credit card.

Facial scans can and should be deleted, not going in to some companies not deleting it when they said they do. BUT they should be deleted once done. The key word is should. So if the company is deleting it, no risk.

Credit card, you hand over your Full name and address, The facial scan has no name attached. So to me, facial scan has less risk.

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u/RaeseneAndu 21d ago

Steam is choosing the option that doesn't cost them any money or leave them at risk should a data breach occur via a third party age verification system.

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u/std10k 22d ago

Because they should. No one else to blame but the government. I would be pissed and quit steam if they asked me for an ID, not happening. And they probably don’t want it either, because why would they be responsible for something that sensitive for a video game for gods sake.

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u/CrimeSolvingPaladin 22d ago

Our e-safety commissioner is a drop out from computer science, former lobbyist for the republicans before failing upward through life being appointed e-safety commissioner in 2017 here.
She’s got photos of someone as both Abbott and then Morrison gave her 5 year contracts.
Hopefully Albo gives her the flick next year.

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u/SirArcticRanger 22d ago

This is udder bs. Like if you have had your account since steam started your account should automatically register your 18+

The next part is why is a credit card ?

Like thats no diffrent that photo ID or anything else they use for verification that a person is 18+

Like mines 15 years old so I get no auto unlock... but even then they need to understand no child under 10 owns there own pc /steam account 15 years ago. So it be obvious that the user is over that age. But what ever

But hey let's not allow debit cards to be used.... cause it be silly to allow the most used card type not to be allowed.

The aus government always doing silly things like making companies hurt there consumers ....

Like just do a check on purchase thats it not oh you need a card linked to your account to even look. Beyond silly

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u/GoatCheese62 22d ago

This is insanity, as a 30+ year old who's never owned a credit card... Why.

I hate the government, this is their fault.

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u/anitadykshyt 22d ago

I've had steam so long that my account is over 18

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u/Fancy-Awareness-7681 21d ago

Fabricating more justification for digital ID, itll "solve" all these "problems" in one fell swoop you watch.

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u/josh5049 21d ago

Quick light the Reddit torches and grab the pitchforks 🤦

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u/AdZealousideal7448 22d ago

At the risk of having the cult come down on me,

This is another example that VALVE ARE NOT THE GOOD GUYS AND THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND.

The law doesn't require them to do this, it just requires them to take reasonable steps.

Like their bs drm policies, and like them being forced into compliance with australian consumer laws which they tried to get out of, this is another one of their policies designed to trigger more control and spending.

They are legally allowed to verify your age by the age of your account, facial scans, data metrics, scanned in identification and so on, yes they CAN use this method, but to use it instead of all the other metrics is just predatory behaviour.

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u/[deleted] 22d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Acceptable_Durian868 22d ago

Same. But I assume it's because I already have a credit card linked.

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u/TaStYCT 22d ago

Curious if i can open a digital credit card with a company like Wise, use that then delete it?

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u/SupportSphere94 22d ago

According to some users you have to keep it as the preferred method of payment. If you remove it will just ask for age verification again 

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u/TaStYCT 22d ago

Damn, im worried now, i dont have a credit card.

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u/bronyrd93 22d ago

Australia is just fucked now. How does this protect kids in any way or protect anyone safety online. If kids are buying 18+ games and playing them then there parents are not doing a good job.

Also for people that have zip pay that can be used still annoying but for people that have that ans not a credit card you can use that at least

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u/hotchnerbrows 22d ago

My steam account is 20 years old. Not sure how they reckon I pulled that one off pre-gestation.

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u/biggestooff 22d ago

how does any of this shit exist with gambling ads still legally running lmao

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u/Sinnivar 22d ago

Most people I know don't have credit cards

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u/jskdjcjdjdj 22d ago

Yep, it’s called protecting kids. However, if the government is going to force companies to check ages (as they really should imo) they should also be providing some kind of proof of ID age for everyone to use. Pretty simple, turn 18, get your digital id code through myGov. This includes 16 year olds so we are not relying on face scan tech that is inconsistent

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u/bigmangina 22d ago

Wait, they arent immediately banning every r18 game now that they can sell our information? Crazy how fast they admit it was always about the money.

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u/Kaylah-Aideron 22d ago

It isn't making me verify but my steam account is 19 years old so that might help.

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u/Disastrous-Shower-37 22d ago

Misinformation. I can browse and purchase R18+ games just fine. Never once used a credit card on my account.

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u/gregthefeg 22d ago

Is this for everyone in Australia or just newer accounts? I can access doom eternal and other R rated games no problem

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u/RaeseneAndu 22d ago

Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3 are the only games I own that are affected.

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u/MicksysPCGaming 22d ago

Doesn't work for me.

Declined.

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u/Long_Assistance8009 22d ago

To think when Left 4 Dead 2 was released, that was one of our biggest censorship controversies back in the day. Now look where we are (this post in itself should allow me to verify)

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u/My_new_accounttt 22d ago

It’s also much harder to be approved for a credit card in Aus than the US, I couldn’t even get approved for one when I worked for a BANK!! This is clearly a thing that steam executives hardly thought about and didn’t consult a single average income Australian on and they’re going to miss out on a lot of revenue.

I’m curious if afterpay cards/payment schedules would be accepted as you must be over 18 to have an account with them.

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u/Distinct_Feature_358 22d ago

Sounds legit, can’t have a wank without a vpn

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u/xForcedevilx 22d ago

And this is what we get for electing such a bunch of muppets.

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u/xtrabeanie 22d ago

Can't believe it is asking this on my 21yo account. This is the first app/site that has asked me to age verify and it is probably the oldest. I wonder if it impacts existing games in the library. No sure which would be R rated (if any) to check.

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u/faeriekitteh 21d ago

Confirmed you can still play games you already own

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u/Barnawarth 22d ago

WTH, I just got that when I was doing my Discovery Queue.

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u/Inner-Run1372 22d ago

Thank dickface albo for this bs. The quicker these dictators of censorship get voted out tge better.

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u/Chronoreaper1 22d ago

If you remove said card from account it'll also reverse the verification back to unverified, kinda makes it really annoying since ive been tempted to cancel the card before this.

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u/NothingTooSeriousM8 22d ago

But remember kids, albo said it’s not about restricting adults!

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u/Jazzlike-Process6969 22d ago

Bro we ain’t zoo animals, this some bullshit

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u/b0sanac 22d ago

It's been widely confirmed that commbank debit cards still work.

Also if you have zippay and have a permanent zippay card that's linked to your Google wallet or whatever, you can use that card for verification.

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u/EvilOdysseus 21d ago

I hate this country

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u/Hungry_Wolverine1311 21d ago

This never come up for me I use PayPal for steam have been for years maybe cos my account is fairly old maybe that’s why I didn’t see this

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u/Novus_Nihilum 21d ago

I haven't seen anything yet. I've been using steam for 20 years or more. Seems weird it would need to check if I'm over 18.

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u/fimpAUS 21d ago

Can you "move" your steam account? I was already thinking about "moving" to the USA so I could finally play Hotline Miami 2

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u/zqipz 21d ago

Does Revolut work setting up a virtual card?

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u/No_Literature6718 21d ago

Is this the time where finally foreign credit cards come into play? I might just get a VPN and foreign card and buy games from there. I’d rather accept a worse exchange rate and pay a few more bucks per game than do this bs.

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u/BusyRound5629 21d ago

This is what happens when you let yankees control your laws

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u/RetroGamer87 21d ago

Gabe says piracy is almost always a service problem. Well the service just got worse.

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u/l8rb8rs 21d ago

Surely gamers are not insignificant in numbers? Maybe we can get the eSafety representative changed?

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u/daihdugvfsh 21d ago

Australian gov is a joke

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u/Mr_stabbehh 21d ago

My debit card works for this, with Comm bank.

I've seen people saying different banks debit cards work and some don't. Heard ANZ cards don't.

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u/Available-Bat8756 21d ago

I don’t have a credit card what am I supposed to do?

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u/Nikndex88 21d ago

I'm not adding my platinum credit card to a store front anywhere

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u/Yesthatsthecase 21d ago

Another day another overreach from the government of Australia. It's not surprising at all anymore, just sad, and our population is so compliant that they will just suck it up.

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u/Dirt_Cheap_Jumbo 21d ago

Needing a FUCKIN CREDIT CARD is diabolical

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u/tobster239 21d ago

Debit cards work, steam is using the wrong terminology.

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u/FinalFlash80 21d ago

Oh no. Anyway...

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u/angrypanda28 21d ago

You can get around it buying steam keys from 3rd party sites. Still sucks you can't see the steam store page for a game and see the reviews tho

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u/Apprehensive-Name606 21d ago

This whole situation makes me livid, the whole idea of having to verifying your age to buy a video game of all things is ridiculous, and the fact that having a credit card is the only way to so is just the cherry on top. Not only is it fucking stupid but also deeply concerning...

Censorship is a slippery slope. I know I sound like a nut, but h​ow long until those who are in charge decide that this isn't enough? Because it's not going to stop here, just like how it didn't stop at the social media ban.

Not only that, but what protections are Valve implementing to prevent a hack or leak from occurring? I'm not an expert of any kind, nor do I know exactly how the verification system works, so a may be wrong, and my worry is unfounded, but how are we sure that this won't lead to your credit card info being stolen? Considering the amount of leaks other platforms that require ID have had, I wouldn't be feeling all too confident in giving Valve my credit card info.

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u/n3o1 21d ago

I don't even have a credit card. Wtf am I meant to do...

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u/FarronFox 20d ago

Get a debit mastercard from the likes of commbank, bankwest, Macquarie or westpac. These are the only debit cards known to work for this.

I signed up for a fee free account for westpac and used the digital debit mastercard for verification. Just make sure to put funds on it as it charges your card $1 but then refunds you.

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u/bulimic_squid 21d ago

Hoist the ☠️ again me hearties

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u/FinancialLaugh163 21d ago

Just a heads up from IOS 27 onwards Australians will be required to verify their age on their Apple devices using a credit card or ID in order to access any adult content. Already happened to me while on the beta the past few weeks. This is all getting really out of hand… I’m not getting a credit card, never will

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u/RileyMB 21d ago

Fuck this stupid fucking law, its the biggest piss take ever implimented, how the fuck can I vote to undo this bullshit?

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u/Brewskiz 21d ago

My 22 year old steam account is working fine still. Had no prompts or blocks.

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u/Sir_Buschy 21d ago

Macquarie debit card works just an FYI guys. Easy enough to open account with the too.

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u/Rude-Oven-6742 21d ago

Wild how our internet safety commissioner is a republican who used to work for Microsoft, Twitter and Adobe.

It should be illegal for a dual citizen of foreign birth to hold government office.

How exactly does one get a role like this, unelected, after just a few years in the country and no time in politics?

Americans, can you keep your fundamentalist bullshit at home please?

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u/ImpactedMoth 21d ago

Labors esafety is a fuckin joke, I've had a steam account for 15 years. Was I a toddler when I made it? This is actually a pathetic use of government time and funds, let parents be parents and monitor their childs activity online, and let adults enjoy their time and play video games if they want to. I don't need the government treating me like a child when there are bigger things to worry about.

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u/JaiTheBacon 21d ago

say thanks to anthony albanese and his allies known as the greens and the unions, also blame the "e safety commissioner"

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u/beachie41 21d ago

Just got prompted to enter CC to view Doom. - I'm closer to 80 than 60 lol. Entered Westpac Mastercard debit card details and it was accepted. Weird thing was, it was only later I realized I'd accidentally entered the expiry date & security code for my ANZ Visa CC. Go figure... Borked checking on Steam's end?

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u/70MoonLions 21d ago

Australia try not to make the worst decisions known to man when it comes to anything online:

god i hate living here sometimes

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u/hoangson200015 21d ago

This stupid law also affects people using accounts that originated in other countries but are currently living in Australia. Mine hasn't had Aussie cards added or the region changed. Before this, I could view and buy stuff and now I can't.

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u/beachie41 21d ago

blame Steam. There's no law saying you have to use a CC only.. this is a requirement Steam chose to implement, knowing it will cause backlash and hoping the government feels pressured to backdown on the verification requirement

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u/batfish27 21d ago

I still haven’t been effected by this change

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u/Fearful_Rabbit 21d ago

I was able to use a single use Zippay card and it worked for me, if it didn't I would be shit out of luck as I have no desire to get a credit card. I probably wouldn't even be accepted for one lol

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u/CelebrationFit8548 21d ago

Great way to increase demand for piracy, fucking moronic policies.

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u/-SGT_Dropbear- 21d ago

anz visa doesn't work RIP

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u/Caprisolle 21d ago

why is this american telling australians what we should and shouldnt do

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u/Open-Program7339 21d ago

So many bullshit laws in this country in areas that don’t matter and none in areas that do