Meta, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube aren't complying with U16 ban, Australia says

8 hours ago

Australia's eSafety Commissioner reported that Meta (Facebook, Instagram), Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube are not fully complying with a law banning children under 16 from social media accounts.
The compliance report noted that while 5 million Australian accounts were deactivated, many children still retain or create new accounts, bypassing age assurance systems.
Platforms under investigation face potential fines up to AU$49.5 million for systemic non-compliance, with court action decisions expected by midyear.
The Australian government accused the platforms of doing the 'bare minimum' and deliberately undermining the law, which they claim is world-leading.
Issues identified include poor age verification practices, such as allowing unlimited attempts to bypass checks, even after users declare themselves underage.
Meta and Snapchat stated commitments to compliance but highlighted challenges in age determination; TikTok and Alphabet (YouTube) did not provide immediate comments.
Legal experts anticipate court rulings on what constitutes 'reasonable steps' for platforms, considering technological limitations in age assurance.
Reddit and a rights group have filed constitutional challenges against the ban, arguing it infringes on political communication freedoms, with a preliminary hearing set for May 21.

Hasty Briefsbeta