A leading technology company providing social media platforms issued a statement after the Australian government approved a law banning children under the age of 16 from using social media in all cases. This makes Australia the first country in the world to enact such a law, which may serve as a model for other countries to study.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, stated that the company respects and is ready to comply with the laws of Australia, but expressed concern that this law was rushed without clear supporting evidence. While social media platforms have developed content filtering systems to be age-appropriate and allow parents to monitor their children, Meta is worried that this law includes exceptions for certain types of apps, possibly leading to unintended consequences. Additionally, the age verification process mandated by the law raises privacy concerns by requiring platforms to store users’ biometric data.
Snapchat similarly voiced concerns not only about the research data and children’s rights but also about the specifics of implementing age verification systems, which could raise security and privacy issues. However, the company remains committed to complying with the law.
As for TikTok, Australia emphasized the safety of user communities, particularly young users, which the platform prioritizes. The company is prepared to comply with the law and mitigate any potential impact on users in Australia.
Source: ABC News
TLDR: Tech giants respond to Australia’s law banning children under 16 from using social media, expressing concerns about rushed implementation and potential privacy risks.
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