Key facts
- Australia plans to double potential fines for social media platforms failing to prevent underage children from holding accounts.
- The maximum fine will increase to A$99 million ($68.2 million).
- The eSafety Commissioner's powers to demand information and documents will be increased.
- Seven in 10 children remained on restricted platforms as of March, according to eSafety.
- New legislation aims to strengthen the under-16 social media ban.
Australia is moving to double potential fines for social media platforms that fail to prevent underage children from holding accounts, with Communications Minister Anika Wells announcing draft legislation to increase the maximum penalty to A$99 million ($68.2 million).
Despite the world-first ban on under-16s taking effect on December 10, seven in 10 children remained active on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok three months later. Wells blamed Big Tech, stating the scheme was not working as well as it should due to platforms "taking the Mickey."
The proposed amendments will also expand the powers of the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, to demand information and documents from platforms and third-party age assurance technology providers. This is to test claims made by companies about how under-16s continue to circumvent the ban.
Inman Grant had previously considered court action against some platforms, alleging they were not taking reasonable steps to exclude children, but expressed satisfaction with progress from others like X, Kick, Reddit, Threads, and Twitch.
Senior opposition lawmaker Jane Hume indicated her party might support the reforms but criticized the original legislation as "undercooked," suggesting the eSafety Commissioner was not initially given sufficient powers.