Australian prime minister condemns delay of changes to child social media ban
Summary
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticized senators for delaying new rules to strengthen the ban on children under 16 using social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. The delay, caused by a Senate inquiry, prevents the government’s online safety commissioner from getting stronger powers to enforce the ban and potentially fines tech companies that do not comply.Key Facts
- Australia has a ban since December that stops children under 16 from having accounts on major social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
- The government proposed changes to give the eSafety Commissioner power to demand documents and information from social media companies to enforce this ban better.
- Currently, the commissioner can only request information, not documents.
- The proposed changes include increasing fines for companies that fail to stop children from using their platforms, doubling the maximum fine to 99 million Australian dollars (about 68 million US dollars).
- Some senators, including from the Liberal Party and Australian Greens, sent the bill to an eight-week Senate inquiry, delaying its passage.
- Prime Minister Albanese said the delay gives social media companies time to delete important documents that could show wrongdoing.
- Opposition senators criticized the current ban as weak and want tougher rules, while some Greens senators question whether doubling fines will actually protect children online.
- The Labor Party government does not have a majority in the Senate, affecting the bill’s progress.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
