SYDNEY: Australia urged social media platforms on Tuesday to employ “minimally invasive” methods to check the age of users covered by its world-first teen social media ban, which take into account artificial intelligence (AI) and behavioral data.
Governments and tech firms worldwide are closely watching Australia’s effort to become the first country to block use of social media by those younger than 16, starting from December.
“eSafety recommends the most minimally invasive techniques available,” the Internet watchdog said in its guidance for firms to comply with the law passed in November.
Social media platforms are not required to conduct blanket age-verification as firms can use existing data to infer age reliably, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said.
“We know that they have the targeting technology to do this,” she told a media briefing.
“They can target us with deadly precision when it comes to advertising, certainly they can do this around the age of a child.”
She added, “Adults should not see huge changes ... it would be unreasonable if platforms re-verify everyone’s age.”
In July, Grant widened the ban to Alphabet-owned YouTube, following complaints by Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok about an earlier decision to exempt the video-sharing site popular with teachers.
Google and Meta did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In February, eSafety said 95 percent of teenagers aged 13 to 15 reported using at least one social media platform since January 2024, but warned that the actual numbers could be much higher.
Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells urged “reasonable steps” by social media companies to detect and deactivate underage accounts, to prevent re-registration and provide an accessible complaints process for their users.
“We cannot control the ocean, but we can police the sharks and today we are making clear to the rest of the world how we intend to do this,” Wells told reporters.
There was no excuse for non-compliance, she added, as the platforms had the capability to do so, ranking among the world’s biggest and best-resourced companies.
Amid concern about the impact on young people’s mental health, Australia’s ban passed into law in November 2024, with companies given a year to adopt it, while facing a December 10 deadline to deactivate the accounts of underage users. ($1=1.4993 Australian dollars)
Australia wants ‘minimally invasive’ age checks under teen social media ban
https://arab.news/89c3g
Australia wants ‘minimally invasive’ age checks under teen social media ban
- Internet watchdog unveils guidance for tech firms
- Social media firms should use existing data to estimate age
- Blanket age verification process “unreasonable,” regulator says
DCO and Arab News partner to combat digital misinformation, explore AI’s impact on media
KUWAIT CITY: The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) and the international Saudi newspaper Arab News have signed a Letter of Engagement aimed at strengthening knowledge and expertise exchange on the impact of artificial intelligence in the media sector, as well as leveraging expert insights to develop best practices to combat online misinformation amid accelerating technological advancements.
DCO said this step aligned with its efforts to strengthen collaboration with international media institutions to support responsible dialogue around digital transformation and contribute to building a more reliable, inclusive, and sustainable digital media environment.
Commenting on the agreement, Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, said: “At a moment when AI is reshaping how truth is produced, distributed, and trusted, partnership with credible media institutions is essential.”
She added that “working with Arab News allows us to bridge technology and journalism in a way that protects integrity, strengthens public trust, and elevates responsible innovation. This collaboration is about equipping media ecosystems with the tools, insight, and ethical grounding needed to navigate AI’s impact, while ensuring digital transformation serves people and their prosperity.”
Faisal J. Abbas, Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, emphasized that the partnership enhances media institutions’ ability to keep pace with technological shifts, noting that engagement with representatives of DCO Member States enables deeper understanding of emerging technologies and regulatory developments in the digital space.
He added: “DCO’s commitment to initiatives addressing online content integrity reflects a clear dedication to supporting a responsible digital environment that serves societies and strengthens trust in the digital ecosystem.”
The Letter of agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Fifth DCO General Assembly held in Kuwait City under the theme “Inclusive Prosperity in the Age of AI”, alongside the second edition of the International Digital Cooperation Forum, held from 4–5 February, which brought together ministers, policymakers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and civil society representatives from more than 60 countries to strengthen international cooperation toward a human-centric, inclusive, and sustainable digital economy.
