Social media platforms investigated for ‘potential non-compliance’
Josh Butler
Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube are being investigated for “potential non-compliance” with the under 16s social media ban, with the Albanese government saying some of their systems to weed out underage users are “unacceptable”.
The eSafety Commission on Tuesday will release an update on compliance with the social media ban, which forbids those under 16 from having accounts with some of the biggest tech platforms.
Guardian Australia understands the report says some of the big tech platforms have been assessed by eSafety as having “unacceptable” systems, with claims that some are allowing children to repeatedly attempt age assurance tests until they pass, are not doing enough to stop banned users from simply creating new accounts, and have poor systems for parents and others to report underage users.
It’s understood that eSafety is investigating potential non-compliance by Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.
The communications minister, Anika Wells, claimed some of the platforms subject to the rules are seeking to “undermine” the government’s laws.
If eSafety finds these companies have systemically failed to uphold their legal obligations, I expect the commissioner to throw the book at them.
Fines under the social media minimum age laws can reach up to $49.5m.
All of the platforms covered by our social media minimum age requirement said they would respect the law. If these companies want to do business in Australia, they must obey Australian laws.
Key events
More than 10,000 Australians return from Middle East
The number of Australians returning from the Middle East since the war broke out in Iran has ticked over 10,000.
The government says 10,372 Australians have now returned home on 103 direct commercial flights.
There are another three flights scheduled to arrive today, one to Melbourne and two to Sydney.
In a statement this morning, the foreign minister, Penny Wong said the government is urging deescalation but the conflict is volatile and could “deteriorate rapidly”.
Australians should not delay their departure from the region given the continued uncertainty.
Our message is simple: if you can secure a flight out of the Middle East and it’s safe to travel to the airport, leave now while commercial options are available.
Nino Bucci
Albanese backs US alliance, but wants clarity on Iran from Trump
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says the US war in Iran has not damaged Australia’s alliance with the country, despite him wanting the conflict to end or deescalate.
Albanese also said he wanted president Donald Trump to outline “a timeframe or a clearer objective” for the conflict that reflected the economic damage it was causing.
Albanese, speaking to the ABC on Monday night, said that while Trump’s objectives were worthy, he wanted a sense of how the conflict could end, and whether those objectives could be met by negotiating, rather than escalation.
He said Australia continued to have positive communication with the US and dismissed a question that the conflict could endanger the alliance.
Albanese also agreed that the third of Trump’s objectives – regime change – had not necessarily been met.
What I’d like to see is a timeframe or a clearer objective. The President said at the beginning of this conflict that it was about three things.
It was about nuclear weapons and making sure that Iran can’t get a nuclear weapon. Secondly, we wanted to damage Iran’s capabilities to attack its neighbours or to assist its proxies in Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis and others… but the third was regime change.
I want to see a recognition of the economic damage that this conflict is continuing to result in. And I want to see any objective of what is to be achieved by further conflict rather than negotiation. And I want to see an end or a de-escalation to the conflict there.
Social media platforms investigated for ‘potential non-compliance’
Josh Butler
Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube are being investigated for “potential non-compliance” with the under 16s social media ban, with the Albanese government saying some of their systems to weed out underage users are “unacceptable”.
The eSafety Commission on Tuesday will release an update on compliance with the social media ban, which forbids those under 16 from having accounts with some of the biggest tech platforms.
Guardian Australia understands the report says some of the big tech platforms have been assessed by eSafety as having “unacceptable” systems, with claims that some are allowing children to repeatedly attempt age assurance tests until they pass, are not doing enough to stop banned users from simply creating new accounts, and have poor systems for parents and others to report underage users.
It’s understood that eSafety is investigating potential non-compliance by Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.
The communications minister, Anika Wells, claimed some of the platforms subject to the rules are seeking to “undermine” the government’s laws.
If eSafety finds these companies have systemically failed to uphold their legal obligations, I expect the commissioner to throw the book at them.
Fines under the social media minimum age laws can reach up to $49.5m.
All of the platforms covered by our social media minimum age requirement said they would respect the law. If these companies want to do business in Australia, they must obey Australian laws.
Krishani Dhanji
Good morning, Krishani Dhanji here with you for another busy sitting day.
Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube are being investigated for “potential non-compliance” under the social media ban, with the eSafety commissioner releasing a compliance update today.
The government says more than 10,000 Australians have now returned from the Middle East, as the government calls for clarity over the “objectives” of the war – the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, will be doing the media rounds this morning.
And the prime minister is facing pressure from some of his favourite musicians, penning an open letter to push the government to adopt a new gas export tax.
It’s going to be another busy day, so let’s get stuck in!