SYDNEY: Australia’s online safety watchdog is investigating Facebook, YouTube, and other tech platforms for potential violations of the country's strict social media ban on users under 16.
The law, enacted in December, aims to shield teenagers from predatory algorithms and cyberbullying. Despite initial compliance efforts, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant expressed concern that platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat are falling short.
"We are now moving into an enforcement stance," she said, accusing tech giants of insufficient action to block underage account creation.
Inman Grant compared resistance from big tech to tactics once used by Big Tobacco, emphasizing the need for accountability.
Platforms are required to verify user ages, with options including AI-based photo analysis or government ID uploads. However, critics warn such methods raise privacy risks and may drive teens toward unregulated areas of the web.
Meta has argued the ban fails to improve teen wellbeing and may isolate young users. Reddit has filed a legal challenge calling the law "legally erroneous."
Other countries including France, Malaysia, and Indonesia are watching Australia's rollout closely, considering similar youth protection rules.