The Australian government has drafted new legislation aimed at further tightening restrictions on social media access for children under the age of 16. This initiative seeks to address persistent challenges in enforcing existing safety regulations, as many minors continue to access these platforms despite current prohibitions.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the development, noting that technology companies have largely failed to fully comply with established legal requirements. The proposed legislation will grant the country's internet regulator significantly broader legal authority to hold these corporations accountable.
Under the new provisions, the maximum penalties for platforms violating these regulations will double, increasing from 49.5 million Australian dollars to 99 million Australian dollars. Furthermore, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland indicated that the eSafety Commissioner will gain the authority to demand internal company documents, including board meeting minutes and internal communications, to ensure compliance. This move is intended to enhance the effectiveness of legal enforcement against non-compliant platforms.
Currently, the regulatory body is investigating the operations and compliance of major platforms, including Meta's Facebook and Instagram, as well as Snapchat, TikTok, and Google's YouTube. Most of these companies have yet to issue an official response regarding the proposed measures. Globally, this legislative push reflects a growing trend among nations to regulate the digital environment to protect minors from potential online harms, with Australia positioning itself as a leader in enforcing strict digital safety standards.
