Australia is set to introduce one of the strictest age restrictions on social media use worldwide. Legislation banning children under 16 from accessing major platforms is expected to pass this week. Despite widespread political support, industry advocates have called for a delay, warning that rushing the law could lead to privacy risks and enforcement challenges.
The bill was introduced to address rising concerns about children’s online safety. It aims to shield younger users from harmful content, cyberbullying, and predatory behaviour. It also seeks to enhance protections for children’s data by requiring platforms to verify users’ ages.
This would represent a significant shift in how platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and others operate in Australia.
Despite its broad political support, the legislation has drawn criticism from industry representatives, reports ABC News. On Monday, Sunita Bose, managing director of Digital Industry Group Inc., an advocate for major social media platforms, testified before a Senate committee, urging lawmakers to delay the bill’s passage.
The advocate argued that implementing such sweeping changes without sufficient preparation could lead to significant challenges for both platforms and users. They suggested a postponement until next year, allowing more time for consultation, technological adjustments, and the establishment of practical enforcement mechanisms.
“Parliament is asked to pass a bill this week without knowing how it will work,” Bose said.
The law would require social media companies to implement robust age-verification systems to block underage users. Critics, however, question how these requirements will be enforced without infringing on user privacy or creating barriers for legitimate users.
Potential methods, such as requiring government-issued identification for account creation, could face resistance due to concerns over data security and accessibility. Platforms may also face significant cost and logistical hurdles in deploying these systems while ensuring compliance with the law.
Digital rights groups, however, warn that stringent age-verification processes could set dangerous precedents for online privacy. Tech billionaire Elon Musk, for example, considers this bill as a “backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians.”
Last week, reports came that the United Kingdom mulls social media ban for under-16s after Australia.
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