Tech billionaire Elon Musk criticized proposed legislation in Australia that would ban social media for children under 16, calling it a backdoor way to control internet access for all Australians. The legislation aims to trial an age verification system using biometrics or government identification to prevent young teenagers from accessing social media platforms like X, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, with fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars for companies that breach the rules. Other countries, like the US, require parental consent for collecting data from children under 13, but Australia’s proposal sets the highest age limit at 16 with no exemptions for parental consent or existing accounts.
This is not the first time Musk has clashed with the Australian government over tech regulation. In the past, Musk accused Australia of censorship after a court ordered X to remove graphic content related to a stabbing attack in Sydney that was streamed online. The case was ultimately dropped, but Musk was called an “arrogant billionaire” by Prime Minister Albanese. In another instance, Musk called the Australian government “fascists” over plans to crackdown on misinformation online.
Overall, Musk’s criticism of the Australian government’s tech regulation highlights his belief in free speech and opposition to restrictions on internet access. The proposed legislation in Australia is among the world’s toughest on social media, setting strict limitations on children’s access to online platforms.
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