An Australian government-commissioned report found that selfie-based age detection software could help enforce a teen social media ban but highlighted “unacceptable” inaccuracy for certain groups, raising concerns about the planned December rollout.

Published Monday, the report said photo-based age estimation tools are generally accurate, fast, and privacy-conscious, though performance declines for users close to the 16-year age threshold, according to Reuters.

The findings suggest a mixed outcome when the ban begins in December: Caucasians three years above the age limit may face little disruption, while non-Caucasians and teenage girls are likely to encounter more difficulties.

Social media platforms—from Meta’s Instagram to Alphabet’s YouTube—could face additional complications, as the law requires them to take “reasonable steps” to block users under 16 or risk fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million).

Trials showed high accuracy for users over 19, but those within three years of the age threshold fell into a “grey zone” with greater system uncertainty.

The report noted that 16-year-old users had an 8.5% chance of being misidentified as underage, meaning they may need to be “diverted to supplementary verification methods, such as ID checks or parental consent.”

“While systems generally performed well across diverse user groups, some showed reduced accuracy for older adults, non-Caucasian users and female-presenting individuals near policy thresholds,” the report added.

Social media experts said the report casts doubt on whether the ban can be effectively implemented within three months.

“It seems like there are a lot of variations in accuracy,” said Justine Humphry, a media researcher at the University of Sydney who specialises in online safety.

“That variation is concerning, with the tight schedule for the introduction of a system that will need to be robust and working by the end of this year,” she added.

Communications Minister Anika Wells said the report demonstrates that “while there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to age verification, the trial shows there are multiple effective options and, importantly, that user privacy can be protected.”