Alphabet-owned Google has warned that Australia’s new law banning anyone under 16 from using social media will be “extremely difficult” to enforce and unlikely to deliver on its promise of improving child safety online.
Australia is set to become the first country in the world to implement such a sweeping ban when the Online Safety Amendment comes into effect this December. Under the legislation, platforms will not conduct traditional age verification but will instead rely on AI-driven age inference based on behavioral data.
Speaking at a parliamentary hearing on Monday, Rachel Lord, YouTube’s senior manager for government affairs in Australia, said the initiative, though “well-intentioned,” could create “unintended consequences.”
“The legislation will not only be extremely difficult to enforce, it also does not fulfil its promise of making kids safer online,” Lord told lawmakers.
Why It Matters:
Australia’s move is being closely monitored by governments and tech firms worldwide as a potential blueprint for regulating minors’ access to digital platforms. The legislation reflects growing global anxiety over the impact of social media on youth mental health but critics warn it may introduce privacy and feasibility challenges without solving the root problem.
If enforcement proves unworkable, Australia’s experiment could deter other nations from adopting similar bans. Conversely, a successful rollout could set a precedent for tighter global digital age restrictions a move that could reshape how platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram operate.
Australian Government, Pushing for Online Safety Reform:
The government has defended the new law as a necessary measure to protect minors from harmful content and cyberbullying. The Online Safety Amendment, passed in November 2024, gave platforms a one-year compliance window and a December 10 deadline to deactivate accounts of underage users. Canberra says the goal is not censorship but safeguarding mental health.
Google / YouTube, Concern Over Feasibility and Impact:
Google representatives warned that the ban’s reliance on AI-based age estimation would be unreliable and intrusive. “The solution to keeping kids safer online is not stopping them from being online,” Lord said, advocating for better parental controls and online safety tools instead.
Google’s Australian government affairs director Stef Lovett added that U.S. officials were aware of the company’s concerns, hinting that the issue could surface when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets President Donald Trump in Washington next week.
Parents and Educators, Divided Over Approach:
Many parents welcome stricter oversight but worry that a total ban may push teens to unsupervised or anonymous platforms. Educators, who use YouTube for classroom content, previously lobbied for an exemption but the government reversed that in July after complaints from other tech firms.
What’s Next:
With less than two months before the compliance deadline, major tech platforms face mounting pressure to implement the ban or risk penalties. Legal experts expect challenges around privacy, enforcement, and potential overreach, as Australia tests whether AI-based age policing can truly work at scale.
Globally, regulators from the U.S., U.K., and EU are watching closely. If Australia’s law fails to deliver measurable safety improvements, it could strengthen arguments for education and parental tools over blanket restrictions reigniting the global debate over how best to keep young people safe online.
With information from Reuters.
