The Australian regulator announced on Tuesday an investigation targeting tech giants including TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, accused of violating the ban on social networks for under-16s in the country, one of the strictest in the world.
Australia in December became the first country to ban children from social media to protect them from feared harmful effects on their mental health. It was subsequently imitated by several nations such as Indonesia or Brazil, while in France Parliament is currently examining a project along the same lines.
“While social media platforms have taken some initial steps, I am concerned… that some may not be doing enough to comply with Australian law,” said online safety chief Julie Inman Grant, citing Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube by name.
There are “serious concerns” that Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube may have breached the ban, Ms Grant added: “As a result, we are now moving to an enforcement posture.”
Companies targeted by the ban face fines of up to €25 million if found guilty of breaching Australian law.
“They can choose to comply or face escalating consequences, including a profound erosion of their reputation with governments and consumers around the world,” Ms. Grant said.
She explained that she expected opposition from the giants of the sector, all the more strong as “this reform puts an end to 20 years of well-established habits on social networks”.
The implementation of this ban is particularly scrutinized around the world, particularly by countries seeking to create similar bans.
Indonesia banned social networks for those under 16 last week, and Brazil has linked the accounts of these users to those of their parents since March. Procedures are underway in several European countries, such as in France, where a ban on social networks for under 15s is being debated in the Senate on Tuesday.
“Wrong” measurement
In Australia, platforms are solely responsible for ensuring that their users based in the country are over 16 years old. Some say they use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to determine age from photos, and some users may choose to upload an ID.
Most affected companies have pledged to follow the law, but warned it could push teens toward less regulated and more dangerous platforms.
While several studies attest to the harmful effects of excessive time spent online on well-being, the first effects of the measure “suggest that it is not achieving its objectives of improving the safety and well-being of young Australians,” Meta argued in January.
Meta also reports that parents and experts are concerned about young people being isolated from online communities.
The site Reddit has filed an appeal against the Australian ban, which it called “legally erroneous”.
According to the US-based company, age verification raises serious privacy concerns because the collection of personal data poses a risk of leaks or hacking.
