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.
- The legislation aims to address platforms' alleged resistance to age restrictions for users under 16.
- Seven in 10 children remained on restricted platforms as of March, according to eSafety.
Australia is set to double potential fines for social media platforms that fail to prevent underage children from holding accounts. Communications Minister Anika Wells announced that draft legislation will be introduced to increase the maximum fine to A$99 million ($68.2 million).
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that social media companies were not doing enough to comply with the law, and that new legislation would be introduced to strengthen the under-16 social media ban and give the eSafety Commissioner more power to pursue tech giants.
The proposed amendments will also grant the eSafety Commissioner enhanced powers to demand information and documents from platforms, including company board minutes and internal emails, to ensure compliance with Australian law. This includes the ability to obtain information from third parties to investigate how children are circumventing the ban.
Despite the ban, eSafety reported in March that seven out of ten children who had accounts on restricted platforms remained active. The government is calling on the conservative coalition opposition to back the bill, noting the original policy passed with bipartisan support.