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Six months have passed since Australia’s ‘world-first’ social media minimum age law was passed. Only now are we going to hear the nitty-gritty of what tech companies will need to do.
It’s less than six months until Australia’s “world-first” social media ban comes into effect.
On December 11, some social media companies will be legally required to take “reasonable steps” to stop Australians under the age of 16 from having accounts on their platforms.
So, which platforms will be included in the ban? And what reasonable steps — using facial analysis or submitting government ID — will these companies need to take to avoid fines of close to $50 million?
The world, including countries like France and New Zealand — which are considering their own bans — is eagerly watching to see how Australia will solve the thorny problems that have thwarted earlier ambitions to introduce online age verification.