On November 25, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that social media platforms would be required to destroy personal data used for age verification as part of the country’s groundbreaking ban on under-16s using their services.
The proposed legislation aims to implement a strict age-verification system, potentially involving biometrics or government-issued identification, to enforce the age limit.
This legislation, touted as a world-leading measure, would affect platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and X, with no exceptions for parental consent or pre-existing accounts. Companies failing to comply with the requirements could face fines of up to $32 million.
The government aims to pass the law by the end of the parliamentary year, fast-tracking it through both houses of parliament. Elon Musk and other critics have expressed concerns, calling it an attempt to control internet access for Australians.
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