An advocate for major social media platforms, Sunita Bose, told an Australian Senate committee on Monday that the proposed legislation to ban children under 16 from social media should be delayed until at least next year. The bill, introduced last week, aims to fine platforms up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures to prevent children from having accounts. Bose, managing director of Digital Industry Group Inc., argued that Parliament should wait for the results of a government evaluation of age assurance technologies due in June before passing the bill.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland defended the law, emphasizing that social media is not safe for children and should not be a defining part of their lives. The legislation would take effect a year after being passed, allowing platforms time to implement technological solutions that also protect privacy.
Bose faced tough questioning from senators, particularly about the effectiveness of the platforms in preventing children from using the services despite age restrictions. She argued the ban could push children to less safe online spaces, but this claim was met with criticism, especially from Senator Sarah Henderson, who accused her of protecting big tech. While Bose acknowledged that platforms must improve, she defended existing algorithms aimed at protecting young users from harmful content. Despite this, she was unable to provide details on the advertising revenue platforms earned from underage users. The bill is expected to pass by Thursday.
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