Overview
- Australia’s eSafety regulator said the law took effect on December 10, requiring platforms to deactivate existing accounts of users under 16 and block new registrations.
- Early reports from Australian media describe teenagers bypassing checks on day one, with AI-based age verification fooled and a trending “I survived the ban” hashtag noted by Sky News.
- Communications Minister Anika Wells said platforms must conduct ongoing age checks, as parents and ABC reporters highlighted instances where facial-age tools misclassified children as adults.
- Noncompliant operators face fines of up to A$49.5 million, with liability placed on platforms rather than children or parents, and viewing public content without an account remains allowed.
- eSafety named Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, Snapchat, YouTube, Reddit, Kick, Threads and Twitch as in scope; Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the move, X owner Elon Musk signaled compliance, and polling cited 77% public support with interest reported in New Zealand and parts of Europe.