Australian Regulator Investigates Facebook, TikTok Over Under-16 Ban

Australia's eSafety Commissioner announced formal investigations into five platforms for potential non-compliance.

“Australia’s eSafety Commissioner is investigating big tech companies for not complying with the Federal Government’s under-16 social media ban”

7NEWS

The regulator identified a number of poor practices.

7NEWS

eSafety is moving into an enforcement stance.

Children who declared they were under 16 were given the chance to show they were over 16.

Under-16s were enabled to repeatedly attempt the same age assurance method.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The government has put social media giants on notice.

Enforcement action could lead to fines of up to $49.5 million per breach.

“- Published The world's biggest social media companies are not doing enough to keep children in Australia off their platforms, the country's internet regulator says, despite a law that came into effect late last year”

BBC

Some platforms plan to use AI tools to estimate ages.

Malaysia, France, and New Zealand eye similar measures.

Australia's minimum age social media law is the first of its kind.

The law requires platforms to verify all users are 16 or older.

Cyber Daily

There are ineffective pathways for parents to report underage users.