SYDNEY (Reuters) - Big Tech corporations on Friday hit out at a landmark Australian law that bans youths under the age of 16 from accessing social media, saying the law was "rushed" through parliament.
Australia approved the social media ban for children late on Thursday. The law forces tech giants from Instagram and Facebook owner Meta to TikTok to stop minors logging in or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million).
TikTok, the hugely popular platform where teen users upload and share videos, said in a statement to Reuters on Friday that it was likely the ban could see young people pushed to darker corners of the internet.
"Moving forward, it's critical that the Australian government works closely with industry to fix issues created by this rushed process. We want to work together to keep teens safe and reduce the unintended consequences of this law for all Australians," it said.
The government had warned Big Tech of its plans for months, and first announced the ban after a parliamentary inquiry earlier this year that heard testimony from parents of children who had self-harmed due to cyber bullying.
Albanese's Labor party, which does not control the Senate, won crucial support from the opposition conservatives for the bill, allowing it to progress quickly.
The bill was introduced into parliament last Thursday and sent to a select committee on Friday where interested parties had 24 hours to make a submission. The legislation was passed on Thursday as part of 31 bills that were pushed through in a chaotic final day of parliament for the year.
Meta criticised the law saying it was a "predetermined process".
"Last week, the parliament’s own committee said the ‘causal link with social media appears unclear,’ with respect to the mental health of young Australians, whereas this week the rushed Senate Committee report pronounced that social media caused harm," it said in a statement in the early hours of Friday.
Snapchat parent Snap said it leaves many questions unanswered.
Australia has been at loggerheads with the mostly U.S.-domiciled tech giants for years. It was the first country to make social media platforms pay media outlets royalties for sharing their content and earlier this year said it plans to threaten them with fines for failing to stamp out scams.
Sunita Bose, managing director of Digital Industry Group, which has most social media companies as members, said no one can confidently explain how the law will work in practice.
"The community and platforms are in the dark about what exactly is required of them," she said.
A trial of methods to enforce it will start in January with the ban to take effect by Nov. 2025.
Australia has accused China of failing to provide sufficient notice ahead of a live-fire naval drill between Australia and New Zealand, forcing airlines to alter flight paths. Defence Minister Richard Marles described the lack of communication as “disconcerting” for commercial aviation.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has cut its policy interest rate by 25 basis points to 4.1%, marking its first reduction since November 2020. The move follows a prolonged tightening cycle that saw rates rise from 0.1% to 4.35% between May 2020 and November 2023.
It is the "toughest laws Australians ever had," said Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke
A large fire has broken out at Cleanaway St Marys Liquid Waste Services in Western Sydney, fueled by exploding gas cylinders and sending thick black smoke into the air. Emergency services are battling the blaze.
Revellers ushered in the Lunar New Year in Sydney’s Chinatown on January 29 with a street festival, featuring traditional lion dances and family-friendly snake models. The Sydney Lunar New Year festival runs until February 16, offering night markets, performances, and dragon boat racing.
Intense snowfall persists along the Sea of Japan coast, with warnings in effect for traffic disruptions and snow-related accidents through Monday, February 24.
Anthony Ricco, one of Sean "Diddy" Combs' defense attorneys, has filed to step down from the legal team ahead of his upcoming human trafficking trial, citing an inability to continue effectively representing the hip-hop mogul.
Scientists have successfully observed plastic Ice VII, an exotic form of water previously predicted by theoretical models, shedding new light on how water behaves under extreme conditions, both on Earth and potentially on alien worlds.
A recent discovery has revealed that ancient artifacts from the Treasure of Villena were crafted using metal from meteorites, offering new insights into early metalworking techniques in the Iberian Peninsula.
A Delta Air Lines regional jet flipped upside down upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport on Monday, injuring 18 people. Officials are investigating whether strong winds and snow played a role in the incident.
Berlin, February 21, 2025 – German citizens will head to the polls on Sunday, February 23, for a snap general election after the coalition government collapsed late last year.
A dialogue between US and Russian delegations has begun in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the development in an official statement.
Intense snowfall persists along the Sea of Japan coast, with warnings in effect for traffic disruptions and snow-related accidents through Monday, February 24.
President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that the U.S. is "pretty close" to an agreement with Ukraine regarding revenue from Ukrainian minerals as part of efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Thousands of protesters clashed with police outside an EU mission building in Sofia on Saturday, opposing Bulgaria's planned adoption of the euro in 2024.
China’s defence ministry dismissed Australia’s complaints over Chinese naval drills between Australia and New Zealand, calling them "hyped up" and "inconsistent with the facts."
Intense snowfall persists along the Sea of Japan coast, with warnings in effect for traffic disruptions and snow-related accidents through Monday, February 24.
Anthony Ricco, one of Sean "Diddy" Combs' defense attorneys, has filed to step down from the legal team ahead of his upcoming human trafficking trial, citing an inability to continue effectively representing the hip-hop mogul.
Scientists have successfully observed plastic Ice VII, an exotic form of water previously predicted by theoretical models, shedding new light on how water behaves under extreme conditions, both on Earth and potentially on alien worlds.
A recent discovery has revealed that ancient artifacts from the Treasure of Villena were crafted using metal from meteorites, offering new insights into early metalworking techniques in the Iberian Peninsula.
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