Social networking platform X’s owner, tech billionaire Elon Musk, has blasted proposed Australian laws that would outlaw social media use by minors.
In order to stop kids and young teens from using social media sites like X, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, Australia intends to test an age-verification system that might involve biometrics or official identification. If there are systemic violations, businesses could face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($32.5 million).
One of the harshest laws on social media in the world was unveiled Thursday by Australia’s center-left government in Parliament.
It appears to be a backdoor method to restrict all Australians’ access to the Internet. Musk, a self-described supporter of free expression, responded on Xin Thursday to a post made by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese regarding the measure.
Other nations have attempted to restrict children’s access to social media, such as the US, which mandates that digital companies get parental approval before collecting data from children under the age of 13. However, the Australian proposal goes one step further by establishing the maximum age limit in the world at 16 and excluding any exceptions for pre-existing accounts or parental approval.
Musk has already publicly criticized the Australian government for its stance on tech regulation. He accused Australia of censorship in April when a judge ordered X to take down explicit material about an online broadcast of an assassination attack on a Sydney bishop. Later, the case was dropped.
Albanese referred to Musk at the time as a haughty billionaire who believes he is above the law.
Musk referred to the Australian government as Nazis in September on their intentions to combat online disinformation.
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