Tech giants urge Australia to reconsider social media age-restriction bill

Tech giants Google and Meta have called on the Australian government to delay the implementation of a new bill that seeks to restrict social media access for children under 16, citing the need for a more thorough evaluation of its potential effects.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government aims to pass the legislation, which proposes some of the world’s strictest regulations on children’s social media usage, before the parliamentary year ends this Thursday. The bill, introduced just last week, allowed for public submissions of opinions for only one day, sparking criticism from stakeholders.

Both Google and Meta highlighted the importance of awaiting the outcomes of an age-verification trial before enacting the law. This system could involve the use of biometrics or government-issued identification to enforce the age restriction. Meta, in its submission, noted:
"In the absence of such results, neither industry nor Australians will understand the nature or scale of age assurance required by the bill, nor the impact of such measures on Australians. In its present form, the bill is inconsistent and ineffective."

Under the proposed law, social media companies, rather than parents or children, would bear the responsibility for implementing age-verification measures. Platforms that fail to comply could face fines of up to A$49.5 million (approximately $32 million).

The opposition Liberal Party is expected to back the bill, but some independent lawmakers have criticized the government for pushing the legislation through in a rushed manner, allowing only about a week for deliberation.

TikTok, owned by Bytedance, raised concerns over the lack of clarity in the bill and the absence of detailed consultation with key stakeholders, including mental health organizations, young users, and social media experts. In a statement, the company said:
"Where novel policy is put forward, it's important that legislation is drafted in a thorough and considered way, to ensure it is able to achieve its stated intention. This has not been the case with respect to this Bill."

Similarly, Elon Musk’s social platform, X, warned that the legislation could infringe upon the human rights of children, particularly their rights to freedom of expression and access to information. Musk, known for his strong stance on free speech, criticized the bill on social media last week, calling it "a backdoor way to control access to the internet."

The Senate committee overseeing communications legislation is expected to deliver a report on the bill soon, as debate continues over its potential implications and the rapid pace of its introduction.

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