Sydney, November 26, 2024 - Google and Meta Platforms have called on the Australian government to postpone a proposed bill aimed at restricting social media access for individuals under 16 years old. The tech giants argue that more time is needed to evaluate the bill's potential impact.
The legislation, introduced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's center-left government, seeks to implement some of the strictest controls on minors' social media usage globally before the parliamentary year concludes this Thursday.
The bill was presented last week and opened for public feedback for only one day. Google and Meta suggested that the government should await the results of a planned age verification trial before proceeding.
The proposed age verification system may involve biometric data or government-issued identification to enforce age limits on social media platforms. Meta stated, "In the absence of such results, neither the industry nor Australians will understand the nature or scale of the age assurance required by the bill, nor the impact of such measures on Australians."
The legislation would place the onus on social media platforms, rather than parents or children, to implement reasonable age verification protections, with potential fines of up to AUD 49.5 million (USD 32 million) for systemic violations.
While the opposition Liberal party is expected to support the bill, some independent lawmakers have accused the government of rushing the legislative process.
A Senate committee responsible for communications legislation is set to present a report on the matter today.
ByteDance's TikTok also expressed concerns regarding the bill's clarity and the government's plan to pass it without thorough consultations with experts, social media platforms, mental health organizations, and youth representatives.
Elon Musk of X voiced apprehension that the bill could adversely affect the human rights of children and youth, particularly their rights to freedom of expression and access to information. Musk criticized the Australian government last week, claiming the bill appears to be a covert means of controlling internet access.