The Australian government has committed to implementing a minimum age limit of 16 for social media access and imposing penalties on online platforms that do not comply.
However, the Labor government has not specified how it expects platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and others to enforce these age restrictions. Pressure is mounting on Anthony Albanese from a coalition of opposition parties to expedite the bill through parliament within the next three weeks, even though the federal trial on age verification technology has not yet commenced.
Mr. Albanese and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland have expressed concerns about the potential use of biometric scans on social media users, the use of government databases to verify users’ ages, and the targeting of users based on age. They have not excluded the possibility of age checks, but leave it to tech companies to establish their own procedures.
The Prime Minister confirmed the age limit at a press conference on Thursday as part of the government’s increased oversight of major tech platforms. Legislation is expected to be introduced in parliament this month, with the age limit likely to be set between 14 and 16.
Questions remain about the practical enforcement of these age restrictions.
Social media platforms are expected to demonstrate that they are taking reasonable steps to prevent access by young people, according to Mr. Albanese. While there will be no penalties for users or their parents who access social media under 16, platforms that do not comply with the law will face penalties, as stated by Rowland.
Mr. Albanese highlighted concerns about the impact of social media on young people, especially regarding content related to misogyny and body image. He emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of children online.
Rowland stressed that platforms must take reasonable steps to verify the age of their users. The government is currently testing potential age verification technologies funded in May’s budget.
The UK’s Age Verification Act provides guidance on verifying users’ ages using various methods, including facial recognition technology. The Australian government recognizes the challenges of age verification requirements based on global experiences.
The eSafety Commissioner’s age verification roadmap suggests a “double-blind tokenization approach” to protect user privacy while ensuring compliance with age restrictions.
Shadow communications minister David Coleman is pushing for urgent action, with the Age Guarantee Tribunal expected to report on implementation options by the end of November.
The government has not specified a timeline for passing the bill but has not ruled out enacting it before the court case’s outcome.
Mr. Albanese and Mr. Rowland did not directly address questions about the possibility of facial scans and ID checks for accessing social media.
Rowland stated that age verification tests will address such queries, with each platform responsible for its users.
Mr. Albanese acknowledged that the law may not completely prevent all underage access to social media but emphasized the importance of setting guidelines for society.
Tech companies like Meta have raised concerns about the readiness of technology to enforce age restrictions, indicating that enforcement may be challenging due to the current industry state.
Davis from Meta suggested that app stores like Apple and Google carry the burden of age verification enforcement, emphasizing the complexities and privacy risks associated with per-app age verification.
Snapchat and Google were contacted for comments, while TikTok declined to provide a statement.
Source: www.theguardian.com
