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Australia Sets Final Rules for Under‑16 Social Media Ban, Requiring 'Reasonable Steps' From Platforms

Guidance emphasizes 'reasonable steps' with privacy safeguards over prescribing any age‑verification method.

Overview

  • The ban begins December 10, with platforms expected to be compliant on day one or face court‑imposed penalties of up to A$49.5 million per breach.
  • There is no legally enforceable accuracy threshold for age checks; compliance will hinge on demonstrating reasonable, transparent processes with dispute pathways.
  • Platforms must use layered age‑assurance systems rather than a single tool, cannot rely on self‑declared birthdays, and are barred from using government ID as the sole method.
  • Operational obligations include detecting and deactivating existing under‑16 accounts, blocking re‑registration attempts, offering accessible reviews for errors, and publishing statistics to eSafety and the public.
  • Privacy rules discourage blanket verification and retention of age data, acknowledging trial findings that current technologies can produce errors and demographic bias.