Post by : Shakul

Australia is preparing legal action against major social media companies over alleged violations of its world-first ban on users under 16, marking a significant escalation in its crackdown on Big Tech. The country’s internet regulator has begun investigating platforms owned by Meta Platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, along with YouTube by Google, as well as Snap Inc. and TikTok, for suspected non-compliance with the law.

Communications Minister Anika Wells said the government has spent months gathering evidence and is now ready to support legal proceedings in the Federal Court if breaches are confirmed. The law, introduced in December 2025, requires platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent under-16 users from creating accounts, with penalties reaching up to A$49.5 million per violation.

The move comes after growing evidence that current safeguards are failing. According to the regulator’s report, many platforms allow users to bypass age restrictions simply by entering a false date of birth, while some systems even permit repeated attempts at age verification until a user is accepted. These loopholes have raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of enforcement mechanisms.

Regulator Julie Inman Grant confirmed that authorities are now shifting into a stricter enforcement phase after an initial period of cooperation with tech companies. Survey data shows that nearly one-third of Australian parents report their under-16 children still have active social media accounts, with many platforms not requiring proper age verification during sign-up.

The development signals a sharp shift from earlier optimism, when companies claimed to have removed millions of underage accounts. Governments worldwide are now closely watching Australia’s approach as concerns over cyberbullying, mental health, and online safety grow. If the lawsuits proceed, the outcome could set a global benchmark for how social media platforms enforce age restrictions and protect young users online.

#world news #Global News #Tech News