Age Verification, Penalties Against Non-Compliance
Under the proposed act, social media companies must establish effective age verification programs on their respective platforms- for example, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, among others. Their systemic failure to prevent young children from accessing those platforms will be penalised up to a maximum penalty of 50 million AU dollars, approximately 32 million USD. The bill gave platforms one year to adjust their systems according to this law before it starts exacting penalties. Privacy Concerns and Proposed Amendments
While the bill has gained widespread support, with a recent survey showing 77% of Australians in favor, there are concerns about privacy and the effectiveness of the law. The Senate has added amendments to protect users from being forced to submit sensitive information like passports or driver’s licenses for age verification. Instead, platforms would need to adopt alternative methods to verify age without violating privacy.
Mixed Reactions from Lawmakers and Advocates
While some lawmakers and advocacy groups support the bill as a necessary measure to protect children from the risks of excessive social media use, others, including youth advocates, have expressed concerns. Critics argue that the legislation could infringe on children’s rights to self-expression, and some fear it could lead to privacy violations or push children to less safe corners of the internet. Independent lawmaker Zoe Daniel described the legislation as an empty gesture, claiming it wouldn’t address the inherent harms of social media.
Despite the criticisms, the bill has garnered broad political backing, making it likely to pass into law in the coming days. If enacted, Australia will implement some of the world’s toughest social media regulations, with the government pushing to protect children’s mental health ahead of a general election scheduled for May 2025.