Google and Facebook owner Meta Platforms have urged the Australian government to delay passage of a proposed bill that would ban most forms of social media access for children under 16, citing the need for further assessment of its potential impact.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government plans to pass the legislation, considered among the world’s toughest on children’s use of social media, by the end of the parliamentary year on Thursday.
The bill was introduced last week with only one day to present it to the public. Google and Meta have called on the government to wait for the outcome of the age verification trial before proceeding. The verification system may include biometrics or a government-issued ID to enforce age restrictions.
“Without the results of this trial, neither the industry nor Australians will fully understand the scale, nature or impact of required age verification,” Meta stated, describing the bill as “inconsistent and ineffective” in its current form.
The proposed law would require social media platforms, not parents or children, to implement age verification procedures. Companies that do not comply with these requirements could face fines of up to A$49.5 million (US$32 million) for regulatory violations.
The opposition Liberal Party is expected to support the legislation, although independent lawmakers criticized the government for rushing the bill through parliament in about one week. The Senate Committee on Telecommunications Legislation is expected to submit its report on the matter by Tuesday.
Bytedance’s TikTok expressed concerns about the draft law’s lack of clarity and insufficient consultation with experts, platforms, mental health organizations and youth. “Legislation must be drafted in a comprehensive manner to achieve its stated purpose, but this bill does not meet those standards,” TikTok stated.
Elon Musk’s X also raised concerns, arguing that the bill would violate the rights of children and young people to freedom of expression and access to information. Musk, a self-proclaimed free speech advocate, criticized the bill last week, accusing the Australian government of using it as a backdoor to regulate internet access.