Australia doubles maximum penalty for social media ban breaches
Australia has increased the maximum fine for social media companies violating its under-16 ban from 49.5 million to 99 million AUD (over $68 million), and granted the eSafety commissioner broader enforcement powers to demand evidence of compliance.
Australia, the first country to implement a social media ban for those under 16, is now tightening penalties for non-compliance. The government has doubled the maximum penalty from 49.5 million to 99 million Australian dollars, equivalent to over $68 million. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that big tech is not doing enough to comply with the law, emphasizing that the changes reflect the seriousness with which the government treats any failure to adhere to its world-leading legislation.
Along with the increased penalty, the government has expanded the powers of the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Grant. She can now require social media platforms to provide evidence of how they prevent children under 16 from creating accounts. The commissioner may also gather compliance-related evidence from third parties, such as age verification services or app store providers.
Since the ban took effect in December, the government reports that over five million accounts of users under 16 have been removed, deactivated, or restricted. However, recent studies question the ban's effectiveness. A poll by the Molly Rose Foundation in April found that 61% of children aged 12 to 15 still had access to social media. Additionally, a University of Newcastle study claimed that more than 85% of Australian teens under 16 remain active on social media apps, indicating ongoing challenges in enforcement.
