On Wednesday, Australia’s parliament took significant steps toward restricting social media access for individuals under 16, with the lower house approving a bill aimed at implementing the ban, despite opposition from major tech companies such as Alphabet’s Google and Facebook-parent Meta, which have urged the government to postpone the legislation.
The House of Representatives passed the bill with a vote of 102 to 13, following bipartisan support for the initiative led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s center-left Labor government.
Debate on the bill is anticipated in the Senate later on Wednesday, with the government aiming for its passage before the close of the parliamentary year on Thursday.
In an effort to improve his approval ratings ahead of an anticipated election in May, Albanese has emphasized the potential dangers posed by excessive social media use on children’s physical and mental health and is seeking parental backing for the proposal.
Several media organizations, including News Corp, have voiced their support for the ban.
However, some advocates for youth rights, including Australia’s human rights commission, have expressed concerns that this legislation could infringe on children’s rights to self-expression. Despite this, a YouGov poll released on Tuesday indicated that 77 percent of Australians support the ban, an increase from 61 percent in August.
The proposed law would require social media platforms to implement effective age-verification measures. Companies failing to comply could face fines of up to AUD 49.5 million (approximately $32 million or INR 270 crore) for significant violations.
Australia is also set to initiate a trial of an age-verification system, which could utilize biometrics or government-issued identification, potentially marking one of the strictest sets of social media regulations put in place by any nation.
A Senate committee endorsed the bill late on Tuesday but included a stipulation that social media companies should not compel users to provide personal identification data, like passports, to verify their age.
The committee’s report indicated that platforms “must offer alternative methods for age assurance as reasonable measures, factoring in the age-assurance trial.” It also mandated that the communications minister submit a progress report on the trial to parliament by September 30, 2025, while encouraging the government to “meaningfully engage” with youth during the law’s development.
Senator Karen Grogan, chair of the committee, emphasized the importance of including young people, especially from diverse backgrounds, in discussions surrounding the implementation of age restrictions to foster constructive connections.
In separate submissions to the parliament, Google and Meta called for the social media ban to be deferred until the age-verification trial concludes. Additionally, TikTok, owned by Bytedance, stated that further consultation was necessary, while Elon Musk’s platform X cautioned that the proposed legislation could negatively affect children’s human rights.
Some opposition members and independent lawmakers have criticized the government’s rapid push to pass the legislation within a week. The bill was introduced last Thursday, submissions closed the following day, and a brief public hearing took place on Monday.
© Thomson Reuters 2024
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