Huge fines planned for tech giants that let kids on apps

Digital giants such as Elon Musk’s X could be hit with fines of up to $50 million if they failed to follow proposed laws to block under-16s from tech platforms, fuelling the government’s crackdown on social media.

As it moves to tamp down concerns about handing over identification to digital companies, the Albanese government will on Thursday put forward a world-first bill to ban younger teens from platforms such as X, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and others potentially including Snapchat.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with Communications Minister Michelle Rowland, who says the proposals are geared towards “protecting young people and letting parents know we’ve got their backs”.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The bill has support from the Coalition, which first floated a ban earlier this year, but internet experts, civil liberties groups and libertarian MPs have expressed worry about limiting the rights of teens to experience social connection. Other groups such as mental health bodies have backed the planned changes.

Crucial details about the technology that would enforce the ban remain undecided. But ahead of the legislation’s introduction, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said fines of up to $50 million could be handed to companies that systematically breached the law.

Trumpeting the proposals as globally significant, Rowland said they were geared towards “protecting young people and letting parents know we’ve got their backs”.

“The legislation places the onus on social media platforms, not parents or children, to ensure protections are in place,” she said.

“Ultimately, this is about supporting a safer and healthier online environment for young Australians.”

The government has not said exactly how users’ ages would be verified, but the eSafety Commissioner has previously suggested a “double-blind tokenised approach”, where a third party would certify the person’s details without revealing them to the social media platform.

Some conservative MPs and digital rights activists have raised concerns about whether the age-assurance technology would need to be backed up by a digital ID.

Asked about this in a Labor caucus meeting on Tuesday, Rowland said people using social media would not have to upload proof of identity directly to those platforms.

Opposition communications spokesperson David Coleman with Coalition leader Peter Dutton.Credit: Paul Jeffers

“The opposition is the only party arguing that people should upload 100 points of ID and give it to TikTok,” she told the meeting.

Rowland also confirmed parents would not be able to give consent for their children to use social media under a blanket ban.

Labor is yet to specify which social media companies would be captured under the changes. While Instagram, TikTok and X, formerly Twitter, are likely to be hit with an age ban, others may be exempt.

The government wants 12 months of consultation on the laws.

Opposition communications spokesperson David Coleman has pushed the government to move more quickly and wants the bill passed this year.

“[Opposition Leader] Peter Dutton led the national debate on social media age limits. In June, the Coalition committed to implementing an age limit of 16. This is a totemic issue for Australian families and it’s well past time that action is taken. The protection of children online is a fundamental responsibility of the parliament,” he said.

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