Australia will introduce new laws in parliament on Monday to strengthen its under-16 social media ban and give its internet regulator more power to pursue tech giants in court for non-compliance.
The move follows the world-first restrictions that took effect in December, a policy being watched closely by many countries seeking to emulate it as evidence suggests children are still able to access the platforms.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there were still too many children on social media and tech firms were not doing enough to comply with the law.
"We're calling time on the social media companies today and doubling down on the changes that we have made and that we're prepared to make," he told reporters in Canberra.
"Today, we'll introduce legislation this afternoon that goes further to ensure social media companies are doing everything within their power to stop children under 16 being on their platforms."
The regulator is investigating possible non-compliance by five platforms: Meta's Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and Google's YouTube.
There was no immediate comment from Meta, Google and Snapchat. TikTok declined to comment.
Albanese called on the conservative coalition opposition to back the bill, noting the original policy passed with bipartisan support.
The changes, announced on Sunday, would double fines to A$99 million ($68.2 million) from A$49.5 million.
They also give the eSafety Commissioner power to compel documents such as company board minutes and internal emails, ensuring legal cases being built against platforms failing to comply are as "strong as possible", said Communications Minister Anika Wells.
"My message to Big Tech is this: we are not stopping. Every effort you make to frustrate these laws will be met with our efforts to make these laws work," she said.
"If the eSafety Commissioner finds companies are not doing everything they can to comply, they will face the full force of the law."
G7 foreign ministers called on Iran to end its arming and support of Houthis in Yemen, which they said constituted...
Torrential rains brought by Typhoon Dujuan have caused landslides and flooding along Japan’s Pacific coast, killing four people and leaving s...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops targeting Ukraine’s ...
Iran's military has threatened to launch sustained attacks on U.S. bases and interests across the Middle East if Washington resumes military action against Tehran.
Overnight Russian strikes on the city of Sumy, northeast Ukraine, have killed one woman and injured a man, the country's State Emergency Service has said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and food exports, as he prepared to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in New York.
Russian parliamentary elections have delivered a comfortable win to the ruling United Russia party, which is closely aligned to President Vladimir Putin. With more than 95 per cent of ballots counted, United Russia has taken 57.83 per cent of the vote, up from the 49.8 per cent it won in 2021.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) took first place in state elections in northeastern Germany on Sunday, voting projections showed, delivering the worst result for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's mainstream conservative party since 1949.
Torrential rains brought by Typhoon Dujuan have caused landslides and flooding along Japan’s Pacific coast, killing four people and leaving six others missing, public broadcaster NHK reported on Tuesday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and food exports, as he prepared to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in New York.
When U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on 24 September, traders will be watching for more than the outcome of the two leaders' talks.
Seven Ethiopian armed groups, including former enemies from the 2020-2022 civil war, have formed an alliance aimed at overthrowing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will announce a new AI defence partnership with the United States on Tuesday, aimed at strengthening the protection of critical infrastructure and detecting threats.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment