Elon Musk's X accused Australia of trying to give its internet regulator unfair information-gathering powers and undermining U.S. law with plans for tougher enforcement of a teen social media ban.

Australia’s world-first law barring social media accounts for users under 16 took effect last December, drawing criticism from social media companies, most of them based in the United States.

The dispute involving X, whose parent company is Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has added a geopolitical dimension to the debate.

X told an Australian Senate committee that the proposed changes did not give "due regard to procedural fairness, privacy, the broader impacts on online services, and Australia's digital economy."

In its submission published on Tuesday, the platform criticised plans to expand the eSafety Commissioner’s document discovery powers and double the maximum fine to A$99 million ($69 million).

Musk and U.S. lawmakers weigh in

A U.S. congressional committee has already asked Australia’s eSafety Commissioner to testify, accusing the regulator of threatening American free speech.

Musk previously called the Australian social media ban a "backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians" in a post on X.

• Social media bans grow worldwide as doubts over effectiveness deepen
• Britain to impose an overnight social media curfew for 16 and 17-year-olds
• France approves social media ban for children under 15

Regulator seeks stronger powers

Data published by eSafety and studies conducted since the ban came into force indicate that many Australian teenagers under 16 continue to have social media accounts.

The regulator said it is preparing potential enforcement action against five platforms but is being hindered by limited powers. It argued that its inability to compel documents from platforms and third-party age assurance providers creates significant barriers to investigations.

Platforms question age verification measures

Industry group DIGI, which represents several platforms, said eSafety already had broad enforcement powers that had not been fully tested and called for greater clarity over document requests.

Google’s YouTube and TikTok said in separate submissions that there was no known foolproof method to identify and block underage users.

Australia’s parliament has not yet passed the bill expanding enforcement powers. The Senate committee is expected to deliver its findings on 25 August after holding hearings.

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Australia Social Media Ban Elon Musk SpaceX Online Safety Act Digital Regulation Technology