Australia says 5 social media platforms aren't fully complying with age law
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Australia’s eSafety Commissioner is considering court action against Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube for allegedly failing to prevent children under 16 from holding accounts, as mandated by new laws effective December 10.
- Despite 5 million Australian accounts being deactivated, many children continue to access these platforms by bypassing age verification systems, prompting concerns about compliance from half of the 10 targeted platforms.
- Courts could impose fines up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic non-compliance, with decisions on legal action expected by midyear.
- Communications Minister Anika Wells criticized the platforms for doing the "bare minimum" to comply, emphasizing that Australia’s law is the first of its kind and aims to influence other countries to follow suit.
- Reddit and the Digital Freedom Project have filed constitutional challenges against the law, arguing it infringes on Australia’s implied freedom of political communication, with a preliminary High Court hearing scheduled for May 21.
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