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).
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.
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.
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.
Passengers restrained a flydubai co-pilot who allegedly stabbed the pilot and tried to crash a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Israeli Prime Ministe...
Three Pakistani sailors are among five crew members killed after a tanker hijacked by pirates off Somalia was recovered by Puntland security forces...
Afghanistan says its forces have killed 41 fighters and captured 62 others after several days of fighting in eastern Nuristan, accusing Pakistan&rs...
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused the U.S. and Israel of seeking to foment internal divisions in Iran after failing to defeat the country militarily, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported.
The European Union's decision to simultaneously advance accession talks with Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro and Albania marks its most ambitious enlargement effort in more than two decades.
U.S. President Donald Trump has denied reports that he offered Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for nuclear concessions.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 30 September 2026. These are the top five stories making headlines in Europe.
Passengers restrained a flydubai co-pilot who allegedly stabbed the pilot and tried to crash a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday.
Passengers restrained a flydubai co-pilot who allegedly stabbed the pilot and tried to crash a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday.
Three Pakistani sailors are among five crew members killed after a tanker hijacked by pirates off Somalia was recovered by Puntland security forces following more than five months in captivity.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Azerbaijan’s Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev discussed closer bilateral ties and the implementation of existing agreements during a meeting in Tehran.
The war between Iran and the U.S. is creating a widening security challenge for Saudi Arabia, stretching from Yemen’s Red Sea coast to Iraq as the Houthis emerge as a growing source of pressure on the kingdom.
North Korea has dismissed as a “farce” Seoul’s claim that Pyongyang was responsible for a landmine explosion south of the Military Demarcation Line that injured three South Korean soldiers.
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