Australia to enforce social media age limit of 16 next week with fines up to $33 million

"Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X and YouTube would face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) from Dec. 10 if they fail to take reasonable steps to remove accounts of Australian children younger than 16. Livestreaming service Twitch was added to the list of age-restricted platforms less than two weeks ago. The Australian eSafety Commissioner will send the 10 platforms notices on Dec. 11 demanding information about the numbers of accounts removed. Monthly notices would follow for six months."

""The government recognizes that age assurance may require several days or weeks to complete fairly and accurately," Communications Minister Anika Wells told the National Press Club of Australia. "However, if eSafety identifies systemic breaches of the law, the platforms will face fines," she added. The eSafety regulator said a court would apply the penalty up to the maximum if the platform had repeated violations."

A national requirement will force major social media platforms to close accounts of Australians younger than 16 and report monthly on the numbers of accounts removed once enforcement begins in early December. Ten platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube and newly added Twitch, face fines up to A$50 million for failing to take reasonable steps to remove underage accounts. The eSafety Commissioner will send notices on Dec. 11 and then monthly for six months. Platforms must implement age assurance; Google plans to sign out under-16s on YouTube and determine ages using Google account data and other signals. Google criticized the legislation as rushed and ineffective.

Read at ABC7 Los Angeles