We are working on this issue and will be distributing all free Substack content to the Planet Waves website. Paid content is already there. YouTube and SS video will also be distributed to Odysee.
Also Australia. Hit the same problem. Made me sick to the stomach and more than a little angry. But I worked out that I could bypass it by opening the article direct in browser rather than the app. I'm a fully paid Core member anyway, but hopefully this helps others. Thank you for all you do Eric.
there are workarounds...apps generally are the surveillance side of the internet...also VPNs should work fine, you would just log in from another country. You're most welcome Tzaddi.
Hi Eric, I’m in Australia as you know. Paid subscriber and I’m not experiencing the age restriction issues. I don’t recall giving my date of birth when I signed up to Substack so this is strange. But we have definitely lost free speech here.
Penelope, I think age verification is tied to the credit card and credit rating. We shall see. We already make a massive investment in our free subscribers, sponsored by our paying subscribers such as yourself. I see we may have to expand that effort. For me the advantage to Substack is I don't need the help of developers to get the work directly to you. That adds up...also I appreciate the independence of being able to work on my own. All of PWFM is also on this basis.
Thanks for your reply Eric. It makes sense and I know you have made a huge commitment to providing free content.
Substack is formatted really well and it is indeed a great platform for getting information into our hands without the headaches of web development. I’m confident that you’ll be on top of the privacy issue xx
No age restriction for this human in the country below the 49th parallel.
Maybe parents want to restrict their kids' access to frickin screens. Apparently full access to violent "news," movies, television and other horrors is acceptable.
Australia has just taken a giant leap toward the Digital ID prison. This letter is from spooked a subscriber there two nights ago:
"I have been asked to verify my age and give a photo. I will not do this.
Very sorry - I wish to unsubscribe. I am sorry this will affect your substack :(
...
Hi, thanks for your personal reply. I am in Australia.
I was asked to scan a facial photo, which you will understand, is not acceptable.
I am happy to stay subscribed if not for that. i will also be changing my email address but will wait until this is resolved. Thanks for your time."
I checked with Substack to resolve this, they referred me to the Australian government... It also turns out the blue-prints for this digital prison rollout were game-theoried to crash subscription based authors (independent free press/free speech) across platforms all over the world via vicious chargeback fees that have, mysteriously, soared to absurdity over the past couple of years—If uses cannot cancel their accounts and yet are still being charged for content they cannot access, the kneejerk recourse will be CC chargebacks. From Agent131711:
"If 300 people file chargebacks against me, just in $15 chargeback fees, that is $4,500 that I must gift to the bank for no legitimate reason. This is in addition to the refund to each individual. Let’s say those 300 people each paid $5 for a monthly membership. That is another $1,500. Just these two amounts come to $6,000 to refund $1,500 because Substack chose to lock people out of their accounts instead of giving them a chance to close the account and deactivate their subscriptions."
(Another "by design" lock-in: By locking them out, users cannot cancel and/or delete their data, which now will surely be weaponized against them as the noose tightens.)
We are running ever, closer ever faster and will soon tumble into this Digital ID, Vaccine Passport, Social Credit, Carbon Footprint open air prison and should we do nothing, we will soon be, like the Australians, rendered "dumb and silent and led like sheep to the slaughter".
---
And Still the People Didn't See, by Geoff Buys Cars, January 2023
Thank you Eric, I'll stick with my current status for now as a free subscriber here, but I appreciate the offer. Thank you for bringing light to this most critical attack on our freedom.
If you value my work and my presence in the midst of this real-time nightmare, I assume you understand how much in resources it takes to sustain my collective effort and integrity. You are invited to make donation to my nonprofit organization, which covers some of the costs of our journalism efforts. Thank you for doing your small part that end.
Hi Sharon, I suggest you get a Core subscription on the Planet Waves website. We are offering a combined one-year plus 12 signs of my 2026 readings. Please let me know if you're interested and someone will get that information to you — or write to us at cs@planetwaves.net.
I am a paid subscriber to Planet Waves. When I listen to your Substack post a few days ago it asked for age verification. It then took 3 mug shot photos. Straight on, left and then right profile. As I am 67 I was confident that I would pass the over 16 years rule we have had in Australia since Dec 10th. I passed and went on to listen to 3hr show. One of the best this year ! Congratulations on putting together a most thought provoking show. I was moved by your compassion for the murdered married couple and the clips from a couple of his shows. Absolutely brilliant content. I will go back to view more of his work in the coming days.
Please take some time to relax or Christmas and the New Year - god knows the world needs you.
Also Australia. Hit the same problem. Made me sick to the stomach and more than a little angry. But I worked out that I could bypass it by opening the article direct in browser rather than the app. I'm a fully paid Core member anyway, but hopefully this helps others. Thank you for all you do Eric.
Love and light
there are workarounds...apps generally are the surveillance side of the internet...also VPNs should work fine, you would just log in from another country. You're most welcome Tzaddi.
Hi Eric, I’m in Australia as you know. Paid subscriber and I’m not experiencing the age restriction issues. I don’t recall giving my date of birth when I signed up to Substack so this is strange. But we have definitely lost free speech here.
Love to you and the team xxx
Penelope, I think age verification is tied to the credit card and credit rating. We shall see. We already make a massive investment in our free subscribers, sponsored by our paying subscribers such as yourself. I see we may have to expand that effort. For me the advantage to Substack is I don't need the help of developers to get the work directly to you. That adds up...also I appreciate the independence of being able to work on my own. All of PWFM is also on this basis.
Thanks for your reply Eric. It makes sense and I know you have made a huge commitment to providing free content.
Substack is formatted really well and it is indeed a great platform for getting information into our hands without the headaches of web development. I’m confident that you’ll be on top of the privacy issue xx
No restriction for me here - Tennessee USA. Thank you for being a real human seeking interaction with real humans 😃🩷
No age restriction for this human in the country below the 49th parallel.
Maybe parents want to restrict their kids' access to frickin screens. Apparently full access to violent "news," movies, television and other horrors is acceptable.
Here is my experience as a US based author:
Australia has just taken a giant leap toward the Digital ID prison. This letter is from spooked a subscriber there two nights ago:
"I have been asked to verify my age and give a photo. I will not do this.
Very sorry - I wish to unsubscribe. I am sorry this will affect your substack :(
...
Hi, thanks for your personal reply. I am in Australia.
I was asked to scan a facial photo, which you will understand, is not acceptable.
I am happy to stay subscribed if not for that. i will also be changing my email address but will wait until this is resolved. Thanks for your time."
I checked with Substack to resolve this, they referred me to the Australian government... It also turns out the blue-prints for this digital prison rollout were game-theoried to crash subscription based authors (independent free press/free speech) across platforms all over the world via vicious chargeback fees that have, mysteriously, soared to absurdity over the past couple of years—If uses cannot cancel their accounts and yet are still being charged for content they cannot access, the kneejerk recourse will be CC chargebacks. From Agent131711:
"If 300 people file chargebacks against me, just in $15 chargeback fees, that is $4,500 that I must gift to the bank for no legitimate reason. This is in addition to the refund to each individual. Let’s say those 300 people each paid $5 for a monthly membership. That is another $1,500. Just these two amounts come to $6,000 to refund $1,500 because Substack chose to lock people out of their accounts instead of giving them a chance to close the account and deactivate their subscriptions."
(Another "by design" lock-in: By locking them out, users cannot cancel and/or delete their data, which now will surely be weaponized against them as the noose tightens.)
We are running ever, closer ever faster and will soon tumble into this Digital ID, Vaccine Passport, Social Credit, Carbon Footprint open air prison and should we do nothing, we will soon be, like the Australians, rendered "dumb and silent and led like sheep to the slaughter".
---
And Still the People Didn't See, by Geoff Buys Cars, January 2023
The first to arrive were the cameras
Installed to protect both you and me
In places where we weren't that threatened
And yet the people didn't see
What followed were traffic restrictions
To keep the roads quiet and clean
The maths didn't add up, or the science
But still the people didn't see
Next came the 15 minute neighbourhoods
Make our lives easier, decreed
To some, it seemed like restrictions
But still the people didn't see
Then came the Digital ID
So convenient, easy and free!
Your life in one chip on a mainframe
And still the people didn't see
The cars they sold were electric
All wired to the government PC
They switched off the driving on Sundays
Yet still the people didn't see
The banks moved their money to digital
The government banned cash the next week
The ability to fly was restricted
Yet still the people didn't see
They linked up your money and profile
To the ID on the government PC
Connected it to social media
Yet still the people didn't see
Then came a new cure, a new virus
Safe and Effective, and free
They linked these jabs to your profile
And connected the government PC
When the people were locked up in cities
Policed by their digital ID
Unable to visit their loved ones
Now finally the people can see
Restricted and tracked with no money,
To go further a permit you'll need
Contained in your digital city
Oh why did the people not see?!
These steps they sold us a progress
Never looked to be quite what they seemed
If you don't ask the questions and protest
Then your children will never know FREE
If you are a paid subscriber, we can move your membership to our in-house system. If you are a free subscriber, we can add you to our free list.
Thank you Eric, I'll stick with my current status for now as a free subscriber here, but I appreciate the offer. Thank you for bringing light to this most critical attack on our freedom.
If you value my work and my presence in the midst of this real-time nightmare, I assume you understand how much in resources it takes to sustain my collective effort and integrity. You are invited to make donation to my nonprofit organization, which covers some of the costs of our journalism efforts. Thank you for doing your small part that end.
https://chironreturn.org/fully-tax-deductible-contribution/
It is so worth it, thank you for your constant guidance and astrological wisdom.
Hello Eric my name is Sharon and in the UK - I am subject to the age verification drama. I enjoy your work and would like to continue to read it
Hi Sharon, I suggest you get a Core subscription on the Planet Waves website. We are offering a combined one-year plus 12 signs of my 2026 readings. Please let me know if you're interested and someone will get that information to you — or write to us at cs@planetwaves.net.
VIA EMAIL
Good morning Eric and the Team.
I am a paid subscriber to Planet Waves. When I listen to your Substack post a few days ago it asked for age verification. It then took 3 mug shot photos. Straight on, left and then right profile. As I am 67 I was confident that I would pass the over 16 years rule we have had in Australia since Dec 10th. I passed and went on to listen to 3hr show. One of the best this year ! Congratulations on putting together a most thought provoking show. I was moved by your compassion for the murdered married couple and the clips from a couple of his shows. Absolutely brilliant content. I will go back to view more of his work in the coming days.
Please take some time to relax or Christmas and the New Year - god knows the world needs you.
Much love,
Dimi.
Sydney. Australia.
No age restriction notice here in Massachusetts!
Very disturbing (though not surprising) and Coming to a state near you. https://datamatters.sidley.com/2025/07/08/texas-age-verification-law-upheld-u-s-supreme-court-balances-free-speech-and-child-protection-in-the-digital-age/
The article says some states are blocking Texas users. That seems like a way to go.
Who decides what is sexually explicit?