Australia plans higher fines for platforms over child social media ban
Canberra says penalties could rise to A$99 million as regulators investigate whether major platforms are keeping under-16s off social media.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
Australia plans to double the top fine for social media companies that fail to keep children under 16 off their services, the government said Saturday. The move raises pressure on major platforms as Canberra tests one of the world’s toughest age-based social media restrictions.
Under legislation announced by the government, the maximum penalty for systemic breaches would increase from A$49.5 million to A$99 million, or from about $31 million to $68 million. The government said the package would also give the eSafety Commissioner broader authority to compel compliance from technology companies.
The regulator is investigating possible violations involving Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube, according to the government. Platforms are required to show they have taken “reasonable steps” to stop under-16s from accessing their services.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the companies had not done enough to meet the law’s requirements and said too many children remained on social media. He said the proposed changes reflected the government’s view that failures to comply should carry serious consequences.
The under-16 ban took effect on December 10. According to the government, Australia’s approach is being watched by countries including the United Kingdom, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates and New Zealand, where similar limits are under consideration or scrutiny.
Children have still found ways around the restrictions, according to officials and researchers cited by the government. Methods include using accounts registered to older users, creating false profiles or accessing services through private browsers.
A peer-reviewed evaluation published this month in the British Medical Journal found insufficient evidence that the rules had caused a sharp drop in social media use among young people. The researchers surveyed more than 400 children before the ban began and again three months afterward, and reported substantial attempts to bypass the system.
The government said more than five million accounts belonging to users under 16 have been blocked. Communications Minister Anika Wells said updates from the eSafety Commissioner showed platforms were still falling short and, in her view, doing only the minimum needed to get by.
Wells said the companies involved were among the world’s wealthiest and most powerful, and said the government intended to hold them accountable. The proposed powers would allow the eSafety Commissioner to demand documents and evidence from platforms, age-checking providers and app stores.
Some platforms use artificial intelligence tools to estimate a user’s age, according to the government. Users can also verify their age with government identification.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.