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Elon Musk has blasted proposed legislation from Australia’s government that would outlaw access to social media for children under 16.
The center-left Labor Party administration intends to trial a wide-ranging age verification system that could include biometrics or government ID credentials to enforce the stringent policy.
X owner Musk responded to news of the plans by suggesting the initiative could lead to government control of online access in the country, following previous disputes with the authorities.
He took to his social media platform to state:
“Seems like a backdoor way to control access to the Internet for all Australians.”
Seems like a backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians https://t.co/694yCzWOaB
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 21, 2024
With Prime Minister Anthony Albanese leading the charge against social media platforms, he has described the bill as essential to protect young people and an offensive toward the apps to urgently take action.
“This is a landmark reform. We know some kids will find workarounds, but we’re sending a message to social media companies to clean up their act,” he said in a statement.
The plans represent some of the toughest controls put in place by any country across the world, with potential fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for platforms in breach of the framework.
The bill is expected to pass, with bipartisan support
Crucially, there would be no scope for parental consent to override the ban and no exemption for pre-existing accounts online.
Albanese explained young people would still be able to access services such as messaging, gaming, education, and health support, as well as Google Classroom and YouTube.
The government takes the position these measures are required to combat excessive use of social media with the physical and mental health risks posed. In particular, attention was drawn to the dangers of harmful body image depictions for girls and misogynist ideals aimed at boys.
The bill has bipartisan support including the opposition Liberal Party, while other representatives have asked for more detail on how the proposals would work.
Online platforms such as Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, ByteDance’s TikTok, and Musk’s X will most likely oppose the legislation, which would give them 12 months to implement the required changes.
Campaigners including digital advocacy groups and academics have warned the government that the law could push teenagers toward dangerous online spaces, and fails to grasp the complex role social media plays in the life of young people today.
Image credit: Via Midjourney
