Govt ‘won’t be bullied’ by tech giants on social media ban
Cabinet minister Tanya Plibersek says the Albanese government won’t be bullied by tech giants, after Google threatened to sue over Australia’s world-first social media ban for children.
The tech giant wrote to Communications Minister Anika Wells last week, declaring it was considering its legal position if its video sharing platform YouTube was included in the ban for children 16 and under.
The letter flagged the ban could be challenged on the grounds it restricts the implied constitutional freedom of political communication.
Google said it had acted after signals the Australian government was contemplating an “abrupt policy reversal” to omit YouTube from the upcoming ban.
“YouTube is a video sharing platform, not a social media service, that offers benefit and value to younger Australians,” a YouTube spokesperson said.
“We have written directly to the government, urging them to uphold the integrity of the legislative process and protect the age-appropriate experiences and safeguards we provide for young Australians.”
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On Monday, Plibersek defended the social media ban, which comes into effect in December.
“We will do whatever we have to to make sure Australian kids are kept safe,” she told Seven.
“A lot of kids, they’re really genuinely harmed by what they’re being exposed to on social media.
“We need to make sure that, as a government, we back in parents’ efforts to protect their kids from some of the harmful stuff that’s online.
“We’re not going to be bullied out of taking action by any social media giant.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also took a dim view of Google’s attempt to muscle in on the decision-making process.
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“The minister will make these assessments … independent of any these threats that are made by the social media companies,” he told ABC TV on Sunday.
“I say to them that social media has a social responsibility.
“There is no doubt that young people are being impacted adversely in their mental health by some of the engagement with social media and that is why the government has acted.”
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat were among platforms covered when legislation for the ban passed parliament.
YouTube was exempted, in a move TikTok described as a “sweetheart deal”.
“The government was firm in its decision that YouTube would be excluded because it is different and because of its value to younger Australians,” a YouTube spokesperson said.
“This intention was repeatedly made clear in its public statements, including to the Australian parliament.”
But e-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has recommended a rethink, citing research showing children were exposed to harmful content on YouTube more than any other platform.
“The new law will only restrict children under the age of 16 from having their own accounts – not accessing content on YouTube or any other service through links from the school or in a ‘logged-out’ state,” she told the National Press Club in June.
“There is nothing in the legislation that prevents educators with their own accounts from continuing to incorporate school-approved educational content on YouTube or any other service just as they do now.”
The early findings of an age-verification trial found technologies could block young kids from social media platforms, but not without loopholes.
Platforms will face penalties worth up to $50 million if caught not taking reasonable steps to prevent children 16 and under from creating accounts.
-with AAP
