Australia’s online safety regulator has warned it may take legal action against major global social media platforms, alleging they are failing to enforce a nationwide ban on users under the age of 16.
The country’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, released a compliance report मंगलवार highlighting concerns that platforms including Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram), Snap Inc., TikTok, and Alphabet Inc. (owner of YouTube) are not doing enough to prevent underage users from accessing their services.
The laws, which came into effect on December 10, require social media companies to block Australian children younger than 16 from holding accounts. However, the regulator reported that despite the deactivation of around 5 million accounts, a significant number of minors continue to bypass age verification systems, create new profiles, or remain active on these platforms.
Inman Grant said her office has “serious concerns” about compliance levels and is currently gathering evidence to determine whether the companies have taken “reasonable steps” to enforce the restrictions. Authorities could initiate court proceedings by midyear, with potential penalties reaching up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures.
Australia’s Communications Minister Anika Wells accused the platforms of intentionally doing the minimum required. “These companies are choosing not to fully comply because they don’t want these laws to succeed,” she said, describing the legislation as a global first that other countries are closely watching.
The regulator also identified weaknesses in enforcement mechanisms, including allowing unlimited attempts to pass age verification checks and prompting users to retry even after declaring themselves underage.
In response, Meta said it is working to comply but acknowledged that accurately verifying users’ ages remains a widespread industry challenge. Snap Inc. reported it has already locked approximately 450,000 accounts and continues to remove more daily. Meanwhile, TikTok declined to comment, and Alphabet had not issued a response at the time of reporting.
Experts say the legal battle could hinge on how courts define “reasonable steps” in enforcing age restrictions. Lisa Given, an information science specialist at RMIT University, noted that no current age verification system is fully reliable, raising questions about how much responsibility platforms should bear for technological limitations.
Platforms not currently under investigation include Reddit, X, Threads, Twitch, and Kick.
Legal challenges to the legislation are already underway. Reddit and the Sydney-based Digital Freedom Project have filed separate cases in Australia’s High Court, arguing that the ban violates constitutional protections related to political communication. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 21 to determine the next steps.
As the debate intensifies, Australia’s strict approach to online child safety is emerging as a test case for governments worldwide seeking to regulate social media access for minors.
