Meta shuts over 544,000 Australian accounts after ban
DW••world
Key Points:
- Meta has deactivated 544,052 social media accounts believed to belong to users under 16 in compliance with Australia's new law banning accounts for children under that age.
- The law, effective December 10, requires major platforms like Meta, TikTok, and YouTube to remove underage accounts or face fines up to AUD 49.5 million (€28.4 million, US$33 million).
- Meta expressed concerns about accurately verifying users' ages online and urged the Australian government to work with the industry to develop better, privacy-preserving age verification methods rather than imposing blanket bans.
- The company also called for mandatory age verification and parental approval at app stores to ensure consistent protections across all apps and prevent users from switching to unregulated platforms
