Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stated that social media companies will be required to take all possible measures to ensure that individuals under the age of 16 do not have access to their platforms. This comes after the parliament passed landmark legislation on Thursday, mandating that social media firms take "reasonable steps" to prevent young teens from creating accounts.
The new law, which will be enforced after a 12-month grace period, lacks specific details on how it will be implemented, including the methods that platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X will use to verify users' ages. Elon Musk, the owner of X, criticized the legislation, calling it a "backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians." In response, Albanese expressed his willingness to discuss the matter with Musk, acknowledging his right to advocate for his agenda as the owner of X.
Failure to comply with the new law could result in fines of up to Aus$50 million for "systemic breaches." Additionally, Musk's platform recently lost a legal bid to avoid a US$417,000 fine imposed by Australia's online watchdog for failing to remove harmful posts. The government will spend the next 12 months determining how to enforce the ban, with Albanese emphasizing that it will not require individuals to provide identification.
Albanese is resolute in implementing the legislation, citing the tragic impact of social media on young lives, including instances of bullying that have led to fatal outcomes. Several social media giants have pledged to cooperate with the government, though they have also criticized the legislation for being rushed and lacking expert input. UNICEF Australia has warned that the law is not a panacea for online harm and could drive children into unregulated online spaces.
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