On Friday, Big Tech companies criticized a groundbreaking Australian law that prohibits individuals under 16 from using social media, calling the legislation “rushed” through parliament.
Approved late on Thursday, the law mandates platforms like Meta-owned Instagram and Facebook, as well as TikTok, to block minors from accessing their services or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million).
TikTok, a platform particularly popular among teenagers for sharing videos, expressed concerns in a statement to Reuters, warning that the ban might drive young users to more dangerous parts of the internet.
“We urge the Australian government to collaborate with the industry to address the issues caused by this rushed process. Our goal is to work together to protect teens and minimize the unintended consequences of this legislation for all Australians,” the company said.
The government had been signaling its intent for months, with the ban first proposed after a parliamentary inquiry earlier this year heard from parents whose children had self-harmed due to cyberbullying.
The Albanese-led Labor government, which lacks control of the Senate, secured support from the opposition conservatives to fast-track the bill. Introduced last Thursday, the legislation was referred to a select committee on Friday, giving stakeholders just 24 hours to make submissions. It passed on Thursday during a chaotic final day of parliament, alongside 31 other bills.
Meta criticized the law, calling it a “predetermined process.”
“Just last week, the parliament’s own committee stated that the ‘causal link with social media appears unclear’ regarding the mental health of young Australians. Yet, this week, a rushed Senate Committee report concluded that social media causes harm,” the company said in a statement early Friday.
Snapchat’s parent company, Snap, also expressed concerns, saying the legislation leaves many questions unanswered.
Australia has long been at odds with major U.S.-based tech giants. It was the first country to mandate that social media platforms pay royalties to media outlets for sharing their content. Earlier this year, it announced plans to impose fines on platforms that fail to tackle online scams.
Sunita Bose, managing director of the Digital Industry Group, which represents most social media companies, said there is significant uncertainty surrounding the law’s implementation.
