Australian Prime Minister says social networks have a responsibility to protect children

(CLO) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has just announced that social networking platforms must be responsible for ensuring child safety, after the country's parliament passed a law banning children under 16 from accessing these services.

The law, passed on Thursday, requires platforms like Facebook, Instagram (owned by Meta) and TikTok to block users under 16 from logging in. Companies that fail to comply could be fined up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (about 32 million US dollars).

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Photo: REUTERS

“Platforms now have a clear social responsibility to put the safety of children first,” Prime Minister Albanese said.

Testing of enforcement methods is planned to begin in January 2025, with the official ban taking effect a year later.

The new law, which was passed quickly in the final week of this year’s parliamentary session, has been met with controversy, with social media companies criticizing it for lacking due diligence, while some lawmakers have said the regulation could be difficult to enforce or pose privacy risks.

However, Prime Minister Albanese defended the decision to fast-track the legislation, stressing it sent a clear message about the Australian Government 's commitment.

“This law may not be perfect in its enforcement, just as a ban on alcohol sales to people under 18 does not completely ensure that alcohol is not available to children. But we know that this is the right thing to do,” he said.

Australia is setting a precedent for other countries on how to deal with the risks of social media for children, with the law aimed at tackling serious issues such as cyberbullying, mental health and the risk of exploitation.

The Australian government hopes the new rules will give parents more peace of mind when managing their children in the digital environment. “We are helping parents talk to their children about the new limits today and in the future,” Mr Albanese added.

With a one-year trial period, the law’s effectiveness will be closely monitored. If successful, Australia’s model could serve as a model for many countries around the world in protecting children online.

Hong Hanh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/thu-tuong-uc-tuyen-bo-cac-mang-xa-hoi-phai-co-trach-nhiem-bao-ve-tre-em-post323415.html