Today, November 28, Australia passed a law banning social media for children under the age of 16, arguably one of the toughest anti-big tech rules ever. Children’s rights organizations opposed the law, while most parents supported it.
Today, November 28, Australia passed a law banning social media for children under the age of 16, arguably one of the toughest anti-big tech rules ever. Children’s rights organizations opposed the law, while most parents supported it.
The law forces owners of social networks (Instagram, Facebook, X, Snapchat, TikTok, etc.) to stop minors from accessing the social network or face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($32 million). Testing of methods to ensure compliance with this ban will begin in January, and the ban itself will come into effect a year later, Reuters writes .
Countries such as France and some US states have passed laws restricting access by minors without parental permission, but Australia’s ban is absolute.
The ban faced opposition from privacy advocates and some children’s rights groups, but according to recent polls, 77% of the public supported it.
But the ban could strain Australia’s relationship with a key ally, the United States, where X owner Elon Musk, a central figure in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, said in a post this month that it looked like «a way to control internet access for all Australians «.
The companies — including Alphabet, whose YouTube subsidiary is exempt because it is widely used in schools — argued that the law should be delayed until the age-verification lawsuit is over.
Some youth rights groups and academics have warned that the ban could cut off the most vulnerable young people, including LGBTQIA and migrant teenagers, from support networks. The Australian Human Rights Commission said the law could breach the human rights of young people by impeding their ability to participate in society.
Meanwhile, privacy advocates have warned that the law could lead to increased collection of personal data, clearing the way for government surveillance based on digital identification. At the last minute, a change was made to the draft law, according to which platforms must offer an alternative to uploading identity documents.
