Australia’s world-first ban on social media for under-16s has moved closer to reality after a key trial found user age verification is technologically feasible and can be integrated into services, UNN reports with reference to Bloomberg.

Details

The findings are a blow to Facebook owner Meta Platforms Inc., TikTok and Snap Inc., which had opposed the controversial legislation. Some platform operators had expressed doubts about whether a user’s age could be reliably established with current technology.

The results of the government-backed trial pave the way for the law to take effect by the end of the year. The results also potentially allow other jurisdictions to follow Australia’s example, amid efforts by countries worldwide to find ways to protect children from harmful online content.

“Age verification can be done in Australia, and it can be done in a way that is private, secure and effective,” according to a statement released on Friday as part of a government-organised trial of age verification technology, which announced preliminary findings.

Trial project director Tony Allen said there are “no significant technological barriers” to stopping under-16s from getting social media accounts. “These solutions are technically feasible, can be flexibly integrated into existing services, and can support children’s online safety and rights,” he said.

More than 50 companies participated in the trial, and Apple Inc. and Google, the developers of the most popular mobile phone operating systems, are also contributing, Allen said in a video conference on Friday.

The trial did not assess public acceptance of any particular technology or associated costs. The accuracy of different methods, for example, the margin of error for facial analysis, was not provided.

What the law entails

Under the new law, digital platforms, including Snapchat, Meta’s Instagram, and X, will be responsible for enforcing the age limit with penalties of up to A$50 million ($32 million) for violations.

Australia has approved the world’s toughest ban on social networks for children under 16

SYDNEY, June 20 — Australia’s world-leading ban on under-16s joining social media sites cleared a big hurdle today as a trial found digital age checks can work “robustly and effectively”.

Sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok and X could face fines of up to Aus$50 million (US$32 million) for failing to comply with the legislation, which was passed in November.

They have described the law—which is due to come into effect by the end of this year—as vague, rushed and “problematic”.

There has been widespread concern over children’s use of online platforms as evidence shows that social media can have negative effects on children’s mental and physical health.

Digital age verification systems—which would be critical to the ban—can work, said the interim findings of an independent Age Assurance Technology Trial, conducted for the government.

“These preliminary findings indicate that age assurance can be done in Australia privately, robustly and effectively,” it said.

There are “no significant technological barriers” to deploying age checking systems in Australia, said the trial’s project director, Tony Allen.

“These solutions are technically feasible, can be integrated flexibly into existing services and can support the safety and rights of children online,” he said in a statement.

In a separate interview with Australia’s Nine Network, Allen said preventing children circumventing age verification tools was a “big challenge”, however.

“I don’t think anything is completely foolproof,” he said.

There are a “plethora” of approaches to age verification but no single solution to suit all cases, said the trial report, in which 53 organisations took part.

Australia’s legislation is being closely monitored by other countries, with many weighing whether to implement similar bans.

Greece spearheaded a proposal this month for the European Union to limit children’s use of online platforms by setting an age of digital adulthood—barring children from social media without parental consent. — AFP

SYDNEY — Australia’s world-first social media ban for under-16s moved closer to implementation after a key trial found that checking a user’s age is technologically possible and can be integrated into existing services.

The conclusions are a blow to Facebook-owner Meta Platforms Inc., TikTok and Snap Inc., which opposed the controversial legislation. Some platform operators had questioned whether a user’s age could be reliably established using current technology.

The results of the government-backed trial clear the way for the law to come into force by the end of the year. The findings also potentially allow other jurisdictions to follow Australia’s lead as countries around the world grapple with ways to protect children from harmful content online.

“Age assurance can be done in Australia and can be private, robust and effective,” the government-commissioned Age Assurance Technology Trial said in a statement.

The trial’s project director, Tony Allen, said there were “no significant technological barriers” to stopping under-16s gaining social media accounts. “These solutions are technically feasible, can be integrated flexibly into existing services and can support the safety and rights of children online,” he said.

The trial tested a range of methods and technologies, including facial scans, inferring a user’s age based on their behavior, age verification, as well as parental controls.

“We found a plethora of approaches that fit different use cases in different ways, but we didn’t find a single ubiquitous solution that would suit all use cases,” the trial said in its statement.

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