Australia investigates tech giants over social media ban compliance

Record ID: 2371856

  • Title: Australia investigates tech giants over social media ban compliance
  • Date: 31st March 2026
  • Summary: MATANZAS, CUBA (MARCH 30, 2026) (REUTERS) FUEL CARGO SHIP NAMED "ALICIA" DOCKED AT PORT  BRIDGE OF "ALICIA" SHIP WITH SIGN READING (English): "NO SMOKING" WATER FLOWING FROM SHIP'S ANCHOR MAN HOLDING ONTO ROPE ON "ALICIA" SHIP OIL TANKER NAMED "LOURDES" IN MATANZAS BAY BOW OF "LOURDES" OIL TANKER CHILDREN JUMPING INTO SEA AND FUEL TANKER IN BACKGROUND FUEL STORAGE TANKS OI
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Anika Wells Australia Facebook Instagram Snapchat TikTok Youtube ban internet social media
  • Location: CANBERRA, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
  • City: CANBERRA, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
  • Country: Australia
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Social Media
  • Reuters ID: LVA00B875431032026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Australia threatened on Tuesday (March 31) to sue social media giants for allegedly flouting a ban on under-16s, as its internet regulator disclosed it is investigating some of the biggest platforms for suspected non-compliance with the world-first measure.
    Three months after the ban came into effect, the eSafety Commissioner said it was probing Meta's Instagram and Facebook, Google's YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok for possible breaches of the law.
    Communications Minister Anika Wells said the government was gathering evidence "so that the eSafety Commissioner can go to the Federal Court and win."
    Governments around the world are watching Australia's moves to rein in the tech giants, with many considering similar regulation to protect children from harms including bullying and body-shaming associated with social media.
    Under the Australian law, platforms must show they are taking reasonable steps to keep out underage users or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($34 million) per breach, something eSafety would need to pursue in a civil court.
    Meta and Snap said they were committed to complying with the ban, and a Meta spokesperson added the government's own trial of age-assurance technology found "natural error margins" around the 16 age cutoff.
    (Production: James Redmayne)
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