Australia slams facebook, instagram, snapchat, tiktok, and youtube for failing to prevent underage access

Australia's eSafety regulator has sounded the alarm, criticizing major tech platforms for failing to adequately protect children under 16 from accessing their services. In a first-ever formal assessment of the platforms' responses to the unprecedented global measure, eSafety expressed deep concern over the compliance of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. The report highlights significant deficiencies in their age-control measures, with many platforms allowing minors to repeatedly attempt verification methods until they succeed.

Underage access still a concern despite recent measures

While there has been a decrease in minors creating new accounts, eSafety noted that a substantial number of children under 16 are still using these platforms. The regulator has begun collecting evidence for potential legal action, which could result in fines of up to AUD 49.5 million (USD 34 million).

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant warned that the tech giants have the capability to comply with the law immediately and that failing to do so will lead to increased consequences, including reputational damage worldwide.

Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, claimed to be committed to compliance and expressed a willingness to work constructively with eSafety and the government. However, the company also acknowledged the challenge of accurately determining users' ages online, a problem shared by the entire industry.