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Australia Raises Maximum Fine for Social Media Age Ban to A$99 Million
The government will increase the maximum penalty for violations of its under-16 social media ban and expand the regulator's information-gathering powers. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the changes address continued use of the platforms by children.
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The Australian government announced on Saturday that it will raise the maximum fine for social media companies violating its ban on users under 16 to A$99 million, or about $68 million. It will also give the online safety regulator authority to compel companies to provide information on their compliance efforts.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said big tech companies are not doing enough to comply with the law.
Law The law took effect in December and applies to 10 platforms including Snapchat, Instagram and YouTube. A government report found that about 7 in 10 parents whose children had accounts on the platforms said those accounts remained active. Researchers have found that most young Australian teens continue to use the services.
The eSafety Commissioner has opened investigations into Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube for noncompliance. No enforcement actions have been announced so far.
“It’s clear big tech are not doing enough to comply with the law -- there are still too many children on social media." — Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, statement released Saturday. Responsibility for enforcement rests with the companies, which must show they have taken reasonable steps to bar accounts for those under 16. Reddit has sued the government, arguing that the law infringes on children’s right to political communication. The tech companies have criticized the law as a blunt instrument that does not take into account safety measures they have incorporated into their platforms.”
