Google and Facebook owner Meta Platform on Tuesday urged the Australian government to delay a bill that would ban most forms of social media for children under 16, saying it would assess its potential impact. Requires more time.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s centre-left government wants to pass the bill, which represents some of the toughest controls ever imposed on children’s social media use by any country, into law by the end of the parliamentary year on Thursday.
The bill was introduced in Parliament last week and was opened for submission of opinions for only one day.
Google and Meta, in their pleas, said the government should wait for the results of the age-verification test before proceeding further.
Age-verification systems may include biometrics or government identification to enforce social media age cut-offs.
Meta said, “In the absence of such results, neither the industry nor the Australian people will be able to understand the nature or scale of age assurance required by the Bill, nor the impact of such measures on Australians.”
“In its current form, the bill is inconsistent and ineffective.”
This law would force social media platforms, not parents or children, to take appropriate steps to ensure age-verification protections. Companies could be fined up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for systemic violations.
The opposition Liberal Party is expected to support the bill, although some independent MPs have accused the government of rushing the entire process by about a week.
The Senate committee responsible for communications legislation is due to deliver a report on Tuesday.
ByteDance’s TikTok said the bill lacks clarity and it has “significant concerns” over the government’s plan to pass the bill without detailed consultation with experts, social media platforms, mental health organizations and youth.
“Where innovative policy is put forward, it is important that the legislation is drafted thoroughly and thoughtfully to ensure it is able to achieve its stated intent,” TikTok said. That has not happened with respect to this bill.”
Elon Musk’s ex raised concerns that the bill would negatively impact the human rights of children and youth, including the right to freedom of expression and access to information.
The American billionaire, who sees himself as a champion of free speech, last week attacked the Australian government, saying the bill appeared to be a backdoor way to control access to the internet.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
