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Australia's House Passes Online Safety Bill Banning Under-16s from Social Media, with AU$49.5 Million Fines

Nov 27, 2024, 12:12 AM

Australia's House of Representatives has passed the Online Safety Bill, proposed by the Albanese government, which aims to ban children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms. The legislation moves closer to becoming a world-first law, pending approval from the Senate. The bill has been met with heavy criticism from global tech giants including Meta Platforms, Google, and TikTok, who urged the government to delay the legislation, citing concerns over the need for more time to assess its potential impact. Social media companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to AU$49.5 million. The bill has sparked debate within the Australian parliament, with Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie criticizing the government for rushing the legislation and providing only a 24-hour public submission period. Liberal MP Bridget Archer and other moderate Liberals have threatened to oppose the ban due to concerns over digital ID requirements and privacy implications. Despite opposition from the tech industry and some lawmakers, polls indicate that 77% of Australians support the ban. The Senate committee has backed the bill but recommended that social media platforms should not force users to submit personal data such as passports or other digital identification to prove their age.