Google and Meta Call for Delay on Australian Bill Banning Social Media for Children

Google and Meta urge Australian government to delay bill banning social media for children under 16. Concerns raised about lack of clarity and rushed legislative process. TikTok and Elon Musk's X also express reservations about the bill.

Credit: Google

They argue that more time is necessary to evaluate the potential repercussions of the proposed legislation.

The bill, proposed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government, aims to implement some of the strictest regulations on children's social media usage globally and is set to be enacted by the end of the parliamentary year on Thursday. Introduced last week, the bill had a brief one-day window for public feedback.

Both Google and Meta have expressed concerns in their submissions, suggesting that the government should await the outcomes of an age-verification trial before moving forward. This trial could involve methods such as biometrics or government identification to enforce age restrictions on social media platforms.

According to Meta, without the trial results, the industry and Australian citizens would lack clarity on the extent of age verification required by the bill and its potential impact. They criticised the current version of the bill as being inconsistent and ineffective.

The proposed law would hold social media companies, rather than parents or children, accountable for implementing adequate age-verification measures. Violations could result in fines of up to A$49.5 million (US$32 million) for systemic breaches.

While the opposition Liberal party is expected to back the bill, some independent lawmakers have raised concerns about the rushed nature of the legislative process, completed in approximately a week. A Senate committee is due to report on the bill on Tuesday.

TikTok, owned by Bytedance, has also voiced reservations, highlighting the lack of clarity in the bill and expressing significant concerns about the government's limited engagement with experts, social media platforms, mental health organisations, and young people during the drafting process.

Elon Musk's company, X, has added its voice to the dissent, warning that the bill could infringe upon the human rights of children and young individuals, particularly their rights to freedom of expression and access to information. Musk, known for advocating free speech, criticised the Australian government, suggesting that the bill could be a covert means to control internet access.

---

• Google and Meta urge Australian government to delay bill banning social media for children under 16

• Concerns raised about lack of clarity and rushed legislative process

• TikTok and Elon Musk's X also express reservations about the bill

Source: REUTERS