Australia govt to set age limit for social media access; Elon Musk reacts

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese posted on X today, confirming the government’s plan to enforce a minimum age limit of 16 for social media access.

In his post, Albanese stated, “We’re introducing our bill to make 16 years the minimum age for social media.” The announcement has sparked nationwide controversy, with critics questioning its implementation, privacy implications, and potential to restrict internet freedoms.

The legislation, expected to be introduced next week, will require Australians of all ages to verify their age before accessing platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube.

During a Senate Committee hearing, Greens Senator David Shoebridge questioned how this would work, highlighting privacy concerns. When asked if “literally everybody accessing social media” would need to undergo an age assurance process, Andrew Irwin, Assistant Secretary of Online Safety at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA), responded, “Yes.”

Shoebridge argued the measure could have far-reaching implications, stating, “There’s a reason the Government isn’t telling you how they intend social media age bans to be enforced. It’s because they know it will involve the surrendering of personal information from everyone. Make no mistake, this is a national age verification system masquerading as being about online safety for children.”

The government has allocated $6.5 million to trial “age assurance” technologies, which James Chisholm, Deputy Secretary of Communications and Media at DITRDCA, described as distinct from age verification. Chisholm explained that assurance technologies are “innovative” and may involve methods such as detecting keystrokes, facial recognition, or question-based assessments to estimate users’ ages. However, he admitted the technology is “not quite there yet” and that the process remains “subject to legislative design.”

Responding to the proposed measures, Elon Musk posted on X, calling the initiative “a backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians.”

Critics have echoed similar sentiments, with Shoebridge asserting the policy could drive young users toward unregulated and potentially unsafe online spaces.

Despite these criticisms, Albanese remains committed to the plan, emphasizing the need to address online harms such as cyberbullying, misinformation, and explicit content.

The legislation will take effect 12 months after being passed, with social media platforms responsible for enforcing the age restrictions.

The debate over the proposal is expected to intensify in the coming weeks, as concerns over privacy, data security, and the broader implications of the age limit continue to dominate public discourse.

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