Report supporting Australia’s teen social media ban appears to contain AI hallucinations, Senate hears
Guardian AU
•Mon, 17 Aug 2026 02:58:05 GMT
📰 What Happened
A report testing the technology behind Australia’s under-16 social media ban may contain AI hallucinations, the Senate has heard. Guardian analysis found a section of the report includes links to academic articles that do not appear to exist, and the authors have conceded ChatGPT was used in editing while denying the citation errors came from AI.
🔍 The Backstory
The $3.48m age assurance technology trial was run by the UK-based Age Check Certification Scheme and tested technology social media platforms could use for the ban. Communications minister Anika Wells had heralded the report as showing many effective options for age verification. The report largely tests available age-verification technologies, but a chapter on “emerging technologies” cites a number of journal papers in question.
🎯 Why It Matters
The revelation raises doubts about the rigour of evidence underpinning a major policy that restricts online access for Australian teenagers. It also highlights broader concerns about the reliability of AI-assisted research in informing government decisions.
A report testing the technology behind Australia’s under-16 social media ban may contain AI hallucinations, the Senate has heard. Guardian analysis found a section of the report includes links to academic articles that do not appear to exist, and the authors have conceded ChatGPT was used in editing while denying the citation errors came from AI.
The $3.48m age assurance technology trial was run by the UK-based Age Check Certification Scheme and tested technology social media platforms could use for the ban. Communications minister Anika Wells had heralded the report as showing many effective options for age verification. The report largely tests available age-verification technologies, but a chapter on “emerging technologies” cites a number of journal papers in question.
The revelation raises doubts about the rigour of evidence underpinning a major policy that restricts online access for Australian teenagers. It also highlights broader concerns about the reliability of AI-assisted research in informing government decisions.