Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, along with Google, has called on the Australian government to postpone a proposed bill aimed at banning most social media access for children under 16. They argue that additional time is necessary to evaluate the bill's potential effects.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's center-left administration is seeking to enact this legislation, which would impose some of the strictest regulations on children's social media usage globally, by the end of the parliamentary session on Thursday.
The bill was presented in parliament last week and allowed for public submissions for just one day. Both Google and Meta emphasized in their feedback that the government should await the findings of an age-verification trial before proceeding.
This age-verification system could involve biometric data or government-issued identification to enforce age restrictions on social media. Meta stated, "Without these results, neither the industry nor Australians will grasp the nature or extent of the age assurance needed by the bill, nor the implications of such measures on the Australian populace."
They further criticized the bill as "inconsistent and ineffective" in its current form.
Under the proposed law, social media companies, rather than parents or children, would be responsible for implementing reasonable age-verification measures. Companies could face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for significant violations.
The opposition Liberal party is anticipated to back the bill, although some independent lawmakers have accused the government of hastily pushing the process through in about a week.
A Senate committee tasked with reviewing communications legislation is set to release its report on Tuesday.
TikTok, owned by Bytedance, expressed that the bill is unclear and raised "significant concerns" regarding the government's intention to advance the legislation without thorough consultation with experts, social media companies, mental health organizations, and young individuals.
When introducing new policies, it is crucial that legislation is crafted meticulously and thoughtfully to ensure it fulfills its intended purpose. TikTok expressed that this has not been the case with the current Bill.
Elon Musk's platform X has voiced worries that the legislation could adversely affect the human rights of children and young individuals, particularly their rights to free expression and access to information.
The U.S. billionaire, who positions himself as a defender of free speech, criticized the Australian government last week, suggesting that the bill appears to be a covert method of regulating internet access.