Google and Meta Platforms have urged the Australian government to delay a proposed bill that would ban most social media for children under 16.
The bill, part of strict measures on children’s social media use, aims for passage by the end of the parliamentary year.
Introduced last week, the bill allowed only one day for public submissions.
Both companies argued that the government should wait for the outcome of an age-verification trial before proceeding.
The proposed verification could involve biometrics or government ID.
How to police?
Meta noted that without these results, the implications of the bill remain unclear.
The legislation would hold social media firms accountable for age-verification, with fines of up to A$49.5 million for violations.
The opposition Liberal party is likely to back the bill, although some independents claim the process has been rushed.
A Senate committee on communications will report on the bill soon.
TikTok expressed concerns about the lack of clarity and inadequate consultation surrounding the bill.
