Chub, one of the leading uncensored AI roleplay platforms, has indefinitely blocked access to its site from Australia. Chub’s developers had to make this decision after Australia’s eSafety Commissioner issued notices to Character AI, CHAI, and Chub.
The eSafety Commissioner said it sought details on how these platforms protect minors from sexually explicit conversations, pornography, and content promoting suicide or eating disorders.
Chub Is A Platform For Adults
Chub’s Terms of Service specify that the platform is for users who are at least 18 years old. Minors aren’t permitted on Chub, but the platform values privacy and doesn’t require users to verify their age.
The Services are intended for users who are at least 18 years old. Persons under the age of 18 are not permitted to use or register for the Services.
Chub blocked access to NSFW content for users in the UK and Australia in July to comply with local laws. However, the fact that Chub is for adults and contains no NSFW content for Australian users made no difference to the Australian eSafety Commissioner.
Chub Blocked In Australia Due To eSafety Commissioner’s Demands
According to a report by Byron Kaye (Reuters), the Australian eSafety Commissioner sent notices to Character AI, CHAI, and Chub. The commissioner sought details on how these platforms protect minors from harmful content.
There can be a darker side to some of these services, with many … chatbots capable of engaging in sexually explicit conversations with minors. Concerns have been raised that they may also encourage suicide, self-harm, and disordered eating.
Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, Statement to Reuters.
Australia’s online regulatory system gives the commissioner the power to compel internet firms to report internal safety procedures or face daily fines of up to $536,000.
Schools in Australia have reported children as young as 13 spending up to five hours a day talking with chatbots, sometimes sexually, the regulator said, adding that minors risked forming sexual or emotionally dependent ties with them, or being spurred to self-harm.
Byron Kaye, Reuters
RPWithAI reached out to Chub’s developers for more information on what the eCommissioner demanded from them and their statements on the matter, but they declined to comment.
Chub’s developers did their best before taking the drastic step of blocking access to its site from Australia. However, Chub doesn’t filter or censor its LLM or users’ input, nor does it have any age verification system in place, and this may have been what the eCommissioner was after.
The eCommissioner’s actions against Chub, a platform that’s intended for adults and blocks NSFW content for Australian users, seem excessive. Demanding that small organizations implement internal safety processes or age-verification systems is unreasonable, as they lack the resources to comply with such demands.
Australia’s internet regulation regimes aren’t just strict; they’re draconian. Chub won’t be the only platform to block access from Australia if the eCommissioner continues with her unreasonable demands.
Chub Blocked In Australia, But Not Illegal To Access
Currently, Chub’s developers have decided to block access from Australia “to stay on the safe side and avoid potential legal issues down the line.” Australia’s draconian internet regulations haven’t yet made accessing the service illegal. Users in Australia can use a reputable VPN service to access Chub.
Chub Blocked In Australia
Chub is blocked in Australia due to unreasonable demands made by the eSafety Commissioner. The developers restricted NSFW content for Australian users, and the platform is meant for adults, but that didn’t matter to Commissioner Julie Inman Grant.
Making unreasonable demands that small organizations cannot meet is a form of censorship that the internet has resisted repeatedly. Chub lacks the resources to fulfill these demands and has taken the drastic step of blocking access to its site from Australia.
Australia’s draconian internet regulations haven’t yet made it illegal to access Chub. Users in Australia can use a trusted VPN service to access Chub.
