Australia's cybersecurity regulator has notified Meta Platforms, Inc. (META.US), Alphabet (GOOGL.US), TikTok Inc., and other digital platforms to immediately prepare for the country's social media ban affecting users under 16 years old, with just three months remaining before the law officially takes effect.
Electronic Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant announced Thursday that she has sent letters to these technology companies, expressing her expectation that they prepare to deactivate accounts held by Australian users under 16. Inman Grant stated that social media companies should also prevent minors from circumventing restrictions by modifying their account settings. The law will take effect on December 10.
"Now is the time for companies to begin mobilizing and planning implementation strategies," she said.
This world-first legislation presents challenges for both Australian authorities and technology giants, including Meta Platforms, Inc., which owns Facebook and Instagram. As governments worldwide strive to find ways to protect children from harmful online content, this crackdown will serve as a test case.
The legislation has faced widespread opposition from platform operators, with some companies questioning whether existing technology can reliably verify user ages. However, an Australian government-funded trial concluded last month that age verification is currently feasible and does not present major technical barriers.
Inman Grant's correspondence indicates her expectation for immediate enforcement once the law takes effect. She has informed social media platforms that user self-reporting of age alone is insufficient.
According to data from the Electronic Safety Commissioner, approximately 95% of Australians aged 10 to 15 have at least one social media account.
"Many of these companies are already using and deploying a range of viable age verification methods, and we expect effectiveness to be ensured through multi-layered security measures," she stated.
Under the new law, digital platforms including Snapchat and X will be responsible for enforcing age restrictions, with violations potentially facing fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (33 million USD). The Australian government withdrew its initial exemption for YouTube in July.