On Monday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a bold plan to require social media platforms to destroy personal data used for age verification. This move is part of the government’s effort to enforce one of the world’s toughest regulations on under-16s using social media platforms. The legislation aims to ensure that platforms comply with age restrictions while safeguarding user privacy.
As part of the proposed law, Australia plans to trial an age-verification system that could include biometric data or government-issued identification. This system will help ensure that social media services, such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Snapchat, are not accessible to users under the age of 16. The government sees this as a world-leading measure in social media regulation.
Prime Minister Albanese emphasized that the privacy of individuals’ personal data would be a top priority under the new laws. “There will be very strong and strict privacy requirements to protect people’s personal information, including an obligation to destroy information provided once age has been verified,” he stated during a parliamentary address. These stringent privacy safeguards aim to mitigate concerns that sensitive personal data could be misused by social media companies.
The new age-verification rules will directly affect major social media platforms, including Meta's Instagram and Facebook, Bytedance's TikTok, Elon Musk’s X, and Snapchat. These platforms are now under scrutiny for their potential failure to protect younger users. The new law sets the age limit for social media use at 16, which would make Australia the first country to impose such a strict restriction with no exemptions for parental consent or pre-existing accounts.
The proposed age-verification system has sparked criticism from high-profile figures, including Elon Musk. Musk voiced concerns over the legislation, claiming it was a covert attempt to control internet access for Australians. According to Musk, such regulations could set a dangerous precedent for internet control, limiting access to a wide range of online services.
Platforms that fail to implement the age-verification measures outlined in the new law could face hefty penalties. The government has warned that companies could be fined up to $32 million if they do not comply with the regulations. This fine structure underscores the seriousness of the government’s push to protect children from potential harm on social media platforms.
In a bid to quickly implement the new law, the government is fast-tracking the bill through both the upper and lower houses of parliament. The legislation is expected to be passed into law by the end of the parliamentary year, which concludes on Thursday. The government has made it clear that it intends to move swiftly to ensure that the law takes effect as soon as possible, with hopes of curbing the negative impact of social media on minors.
Australia’s move to impose an age cut-off for social media usage and the stringent requirements for data privacy are setting a global example. The government’s approach is the most aggressive in terms of age limits, and it could influence other countries to adopt similar policies. The success of Australia’s trial age-verification system could prompt broader adoption of such measures to protect children from the potential dangers of social media, while also ensuring that privacy rights are upheld.