US billionaire Elon Musk, proprietor of social media platform X, has condemned Australia’s proposed legislation to ban social media entry for youngsters below 16, calling it “a backdoor approach to management entry to the web by all Australians.”
The remarks got here in response to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s announcement of the invoice on X late Thursday.
Australia’s center-left authorities launched the invoice in parliament, outlining plans for an age-verification system to implement one of many strictest social media rules globally. Corporations present in systemic breach of the proposed legislation may face fines of as much as A$49.5 million ($32 million).
The invoice goals to curb social media use by youngsters with out exceptions for parental consent or pre-existing accounts. “This laws sends a robust message about defending the security and well-being of our youngsters on-line,” the federal government said.
A number of nations have launched or proposed comparable measures to limit social media entry for minors. France, for instance, instructed a ban for these below 15 final 12 months however allowed parental consent, whereas US legislation has lengthy required tech corporations to hunt parental consent to entry information of youngsters below 13.
Musk’s feedback add to his historical past of clashes with Australia’s Labor authorities over social media insurance policies.
In April, X challenged an Australian cyber regulator‘s order to take away posts a few stabbing incident, main Albanese to label Musk an “conceited billionaire.” Musk had additionally beforehand criticised the federal government’s misinformation legislation, describing its method as “fascist.”
