Australia Senate adopted two new laws aimed at enhancing online safety and security. The first law, called the online safety amendment Dia minimum age) Bill 2024, requires social networks to verify the age of users to prevent children under 16 years of age from creating accounts. Platforms affected by this law include Tiktok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit, and X. The government plans for platforms to implement age verification systems by the end of 2025, although the specific methods are yet to be determined.
There has been mixed reactions to the new law, with some critics doubting its effectiveness and expressing concerns that children may resort to less safe platforms. Many also noted that the law was rushed through without proper discussion. Despite this, authorities defend the law by stating that social networks pose a threat to children and that the existing safety measures are insufficient. Australia is the first country to introduce such stringent rules, with the government emphasizing that the law is intended to encourage social networks to enhance user protection.
In response to the new law, Tiktok announced that they are testing technologies to determine age, which could help with compliance. Similar initiatives have been proposed in Russia, with calls to restrict social network access for children under 14 years of age. In China, a new system introducing “Net ID” and “Net Certificate” concepts was announced, with measures to safeguard user identities online without revealing personal data. The system includes provisions for obtaining digital identifiers for children under 14 with parental consent.
It is worth noting that Meta and its products are considered extremist and are prohibited in Russia. Additionally, certain social networks are banned in the Russian Federation.