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28-11-2024
CANBERRA/ SYDNEY: An Australian Senate committee has backed a bill that would ban social media for children under 16 but said social media platforms should not force users to submit personal data such as passport and other digital identification to prove their age.
Australia plans to trial an age-verification system that may include biometrics or government identification to enforce a social media age cut-off, some of the toughest controls imposed by any country to date.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s centre-left Labor government is rushing to pass the bill, largely supported by the opposition Liberal party, by the end of the parliamentary year on Thursday.
In its report published late on Tuesday, the Senate’s environment and communications legislation committee said social media platforms “must set out alternative methods for assuring age as reasonable steps with consideration given to the age assurance trial.”
A progress report on the age assurance trial must be submitted by the communications minister to the parliament by Sept. 30, 2025, the committee said as it urged the government to “meaningfully engage” with youth when framing the law.
“Young people, and in particular diverse cohorts, must be at the centre of the conversation as an age restriction is implemented to ensure there are constructive pathways for connection,” committee Chair Senator Karen Grogan said.
Some independent lawmakers have criticized the government for trying to pass the legislation in a week. The bill was introduced last Thursday, submissions on it closed on Friday, and a brief hearing was held on Monday.
In separate submissions, Google (GOOGL.O), opens new tab and Facebook-owner Meta Platforms (META.O), opens new tab said the social media ban should be delayed until the age-verification trial finishes. Bytedance’s TikTok said the bill needed more consultation, while Elon Musk’s X said the proposed law might hurt children’s human rights.
The planned law would force social media platforms to take reasonable steps to ensure age-verification protections are in place. Companies could be fined up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for systemic breaches.
Google opens new tab and Facebook-owner Meta Platforms opens new tab urged the Australian government on Tuesday to delay a bill that will ban most forms of social media for children under 16, saying more time was needed to assess its potential impact.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s centre-left government wants to pass the bill, which represents some of the toughest controls on children’s social media use imposed by any country, into law by the end of the parliamentary year on Thursday.
The bill was introduced in parliament last week and opened for submissions of opinions for only one day. Google and Meta said in their submissions that the government should wait for the results of an age-verification trial before going ahead.
The age-verification system may include biometrics or government identification to enforce a social media age cut-off.
“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,” Meta said. “In its present form, the bill is inconsistent and ineffective.” The law would force social media platforms, and not parents or children, to take reasonable steps to ensure age-verification protections are in place. Companies could be fined up to AU$49.5 million ($32 million) for systemic breaches. (Int’l News Desk)
