Google and Meta have requested the Australian government to delay a proposed bill that would ban most social media access for children under 16. The tech companies argue that more time is needed to evaluate the bill’s potential effects.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government is pushing to pass the bill, one of the strictest measures globally on children’s social media use, by the end of the parliamentary year on Thursday. The bill, introduced last week, allowed only a single day for public feedback.
In their submissions, Google and Meta suggested waiting for the results of an age-verification trial before proceeding. The proposed verification methods include using biometrics or government-issued IDs to enforce the age restrictions. Meta stated that the bill, in its current form, lacks consistency and would not be effective.
The legislation would place the responsibility of verifying users’ ages on social media platforms, not parents or children. Platforms could face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for repeated violations.
While the opposition Liberal Party is expected to support the bill, some independent lawmakers have criticized the government for rushing the process within a week. A Senate committee report on the legislation is due on Tuesday.
TikTok also voiced concerns, noting that the bill lacked detailed consultation with experts, social media companies, mental health organizations, and young people. The platform urged more thorough drafting to ensure the law achieves its goals. Similarly, Elon Musk’s X criticized the bill for potentially infringing on children’s rights to freedom of expression and access to information. Musk argued that the legislation could lead to broader restrictions on internet access.
