Australia threatens tech giants with sanctions for violating social media bans

The Australian regulatory authority announced on Tuesday that it will impose sanctions on tech giants, including TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, for violating the social media ban for users under 16 years old. In December, Australia became the first country to ban children from accessing these platforms, considering the risks to mental health.

Although over five million minor accounts have been deleted, the eSafety Commission reported that many children continue to access the banned networks. Communications Minister Anika Wells emphasized that tech giants must comply with Australian legislation, and companies risk fines of up to 25 million euros. The implementation of this law is being closely monitored globally, and other countries, such as Brazil and Indonesia, are taking similar measures.

Affected companies must demonstrate that they have taken steps to exclude young users, but challenges related to age verification remain a major issue.