Australia PM: ‘too many children on social media’, ban too easy to avoid

AI Summary

Australia announced plans to double penalties for tech firms failing to enforce a social media ban for children under 16. The government will enhance the powers of the eSafety Commissioner to compel social media companies to provide evidence of compliance.

Australia said on Saturday it would double the maximum penalty it can impose on tech firms found to have failed to uphold a groundbreaking social media ban for children, as evidence mounts that the ban has had little effect on teen use. The government will also strengthen the information-gathering powers of its internet regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, allowing it to compel social media companies ‌to provide evidence of what they have done to stop under-16s from getting an account. Under the...