Australia's tech giants are under investigation for allegedly breaching the country's under-16 social media ban.
Communications Minister Anika Wells accused the companies of failing to obey the laws, which were implemented in December to protect young minds from online content deemed unsuitable for minors. The laws, hailed as world-leading, have seen over five million accounts belonging to underage Australian users removed.
The eSafety Commission flagged significant concerns about Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube, citing their failure to take reasonable steps to verify the ages of users. Tech companies face fines of up to $33.9 million if found guilty.
Minister Wells warned that big tech companies must obey Australian laws if they want to do business in the country. "Australia will not let the social media giants take us for mugs," she said.
The ban has drawn interest from other countries, with Malaysia, France, New Zealand, and Indonesia eyeing similar measures. However, social media companies have warned that the measures could push teenagers into dark corners of the internet.
The Australian government must ensure that tech giants are held accountable for their failure to comply with the under-16 social media ban. Minister Anika Wells' warning that big tech companies must obey Australian laws is a clear message to those who think they can operate outside the law. The fact that over five million underage accounts have been removed since the ban came into effect suggests that the laws are working, but it is the tech companies' responsibility to take reasonable steps to verify users' ages. The government's decision on punishments by mid-2026 will be crucial in setting a precedent for other countries considering similar measures.
