Google and Meta are suggesting that the Australian government should delay passing the new social media bill until a trial on the proposed age-verification systems is completed. This bill, which has generated a lot of debate, is backed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and aims to enforce a strict prohibition on social media use for individuals under 16.
Age Verification Concerns
To enforce this, the government is looking at an age-verification system that could involve biometrics or checking government-issued identification. Many people are unhappy with this proposal, believing it gives the government too much control over access and forces them to share personal identification with social media platforms.
Rushed Legislation
As reported by Reuters, the bill was introduced in parliament last week and public feedback was requested for just one day. Independent lawmakers have criticized the government for pushing this bill through parliament too quickly, raising concerns about the lack of thorough discussion.
Responsibilities of Social Media Platforms
The legislation also requires social media companies to establish an age-verification system by the end of the year or face significant fines. In their responses to the bill, Google and Meta have called on the government to conduct a trial of the age-verification systems prior to implementation.
Meta stated in its response, "Without these results, neither the industry nor Australians will grasp the extent or nature of age assurance demanded by the bill, nor the consequences of these actions on Australians." The company also pointed out that, in its current state, "the bill lacks consistency and effectiveness."
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