Australia to Double Fines on Big Tech Over Children Bypassing Social Media Ban

Australia to Double Fines on Big Tech Over Children Bypassing Social Media Ban
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Australia says it will double fines on social media companies that fail to keep children off their platforms, accusing Big Tech firms of doing too little to enforce the country’s under-16 social media ban.

The government said new legislation would raise the maximum penalty for systemic breaches from 49.5 million to 99 million Australian dollars, or about $68 million, while giving the eSafety Commissioner stronger powers to demand documents and evidence from platforms, age-verification firms, and app stores.

The regulator is investigating possible breaches by Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said too many children were still using social media despite the ban, which came into force on December 10.

Children have reportedly bypassed the rules by using accounts registered to adults, creating fake profiles, or accessing platforms through private browsers. A recent peer-reviewed study also found “substantial circumvention” of the ban.

The government says more than five million accounts belonging to under-16s have been blocked, but Communications Minister Anika Wells said platforms were still doing the minimum required.

Under the law, companies must show they have taken reasonable steps to prevent children under 16 from accessing their services.