Can Australians opt out or delete their digital identity and what are the alternatives?
This fact-check may be outdated. Consider refreshing it to get the most current information.
Executive summary
Australians cannot be compelled to use government-issued Digital ID for age assurance on social media or search engines — the government and explanatory materials explicitly state “no Australian will be forced to use government identification (including Digital ID)” for those purposes [1] [2]. The Digital ID Act and related rules are being rolled out through late 2024–2025 with options for voluntary suspension and restoration of digital IDs under consultation, and campaigns and petitions oppose mandatory or expansive use [3] [4] [5] [6].
1. What the law and rules actually say — mandatory? No, but flexibility is limited
The Digital ID Act 2024 creates the statutory basis for a national system and for accredited providers to interoperate with the Australian Government Digital ID System (AGDIS/myGovID); it is intended to expand participation across government and the private sector and is due to commence in late 2024–2025 [3]. The government’s explanatory material and fact sheets repeatedly emphasize that platforms “must not collect government‑issued identification or require the use of Digital ID … unless” specific conditions apply and that “no Australian will be compelled to use government identification (including Digital ID)” for age assurance on social media [1] [2]. That wording means Digital ID is presented as optional for individuals, but the legislative and code settings let platform operators choose methods — including government IDs — to satisfy regulatory obligations [2] [7].
2. Opting out in practice — possible, but you may face friction
Multiple sources show refusal to use Digital ID will not legally bar you from services, but not using it can impose practical costs: extra paperwork, longer queues or alternative verification steps that create a “digital slow lane” for non‑users [8]. Industry codes under the Online Safety Act require platforms to offer non‑government or non‑Digital ID options for age assurance, but they also create incentives for platforms to adopt automated, efficient verification approaches; users who decline those efficient paths will likely encounter slower or more manual processes [2] [7] [8].
3. Temporary suspension and deletion — rules under consultation, not yet settled
The Digital ID Rules and Accreditation Rules include proposed provisions letting individuals request temporary suspension of their digital ID and steps for restoring it; those provisions are scheduled to take effect at the end of 2025 but remain subject to consultation and rule‑making [4] [9]. Available sources do not provide a definitive pathway for full deletion or permanent erasure of an accredited digital identity from government or third‑party systems; the current public material focuses on suspension and restoration, and on accreditation obligations for providers [4]. Not found in current reporting: a clear, universally applicable “delete my Digital ID forever” mechanism across all participating providers [4].
4. Alternatives to Digital ID — non‑government options and age‑assurance methods
Laws and industry codes require platforms to offer at least one non‑government method of age assurance; published and discussed alternatives include facial age‑estimation, bank card checks, account history analysis, and verification at the operating‑system or app‑store level [7] [2]. Government fact sheets and industry commentary explicitly encourage non‑Digital ID solutions so users can access services without submitting government IDs [1] [2]. Those alternatives vary greatly in privacy risk and effectiveness: some minimise sharing of government identifiers while others (card checks, biometrics) raise separate privacy or security concerns [7].
5. Opposition, politics and public perception — vigorous pushback exists
Large petitions and activist campaigns frame a national Digital ID as a privacy and inclusion threat, citing past data breaches at major firms and warning about centralised single points of failure and social exclusion for vulnerable groups [6] [10]. Commentators and independent outlets predict enforcement dates and dramatic outcomes for online search and social media access — claims that range from plausible to alarmist; for example, multiple pieces assert sweeping mandatory verification for search engines by late December 2025, but government materials emphasise platform obligations to provide non‑Digital ID alternatives [11] [12] [7] [1].
6. What to watch next — consultations, accreditation rules and industry codes
Key developments to monitor are the Digital ID Rules consultations (deadlines and final text), the Accreditation Rules’ handling of suspension and incident response, and the industry codes under the Online Safety Act that will specify acceptable age assurance methods [9] [4] [7]. The Department of Finance and the Digital ID System site are actively updating rules and running consultations — those texts will determine whether suspension, portability or deletion mechanisms are strengthened or remain limited [9] [4].
Limitations and final note: available sources show the government repeatedly asserting Digital ID will not be compulsory for individual users in certain use cases, and they document options and consultations for suspension — but they do not provide a single, detailed national process for permanent deletion across all accredited providers [1] [4]. Readers should treat activist claims of imminent, universal compulsory ID for every search with caution and compare the evolving official rules and industry codes as they are finalised [11] [7] [2].