Australia’s online watchdog has officially launched an investigation into several global tech titans, including Facebook and YouTube, for potential breaches of the nation’s landmark social media ban for children under 16. The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, announced on Tuesday that there are “significant concerns” regarding the compliance levels of major platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Reddit.
The ban, which was enacted in December, was designed to protect minors from “predatory algorithms” and the pervasive threat of online bullying. However, initial monitoring by the commission suggests that some companies may not be doing enough to prevent new accounts from being created by underage users. Inman Grant stated that the regulator is now moving into a formal “enforcement stance” to ensure these platforms adhere to the world-leading legislation.
Comparing the pushback from the tech industry to the historical tactics of “Big Tobacco,” the Commissioner noted that the reform aims to unwind two decades of entrenched social media practices. While acknowledging that generational change takes time, she emphasised that these multi-billion-dollar companies possess the technical capability to comply with safety laws immediately and are expected to do so to operate within Australia.
The move comes as other nations, including Malaysia, France, New Zealand, and Indonesia, closely observe the Australian model for potential implementation. Currently, the responsibility for age verification lies solely with the social media companies, some of whom have proposed using AI-driven age estimation via photos or requiring users to upload government-issued identification to prove they are at least 16 years old.
Despite the legislative pressure, the tech sector remains critical of the “heavy-handed” approach. Meta argued in January that the ban might inadvertently isolate young people from supportive online communities and push them toward less-regulated, darker corners of the internet. Meanwhile, Reddit has escalated the conflict by filing a legal challenge in Australia’s High Court, branding the ban “legally erroneous” and raising serious concerns about the privacy risks associated with collecting sensitive personal data for age verification.
