The Push for Age Verification on Social Media
The Australian federal opposition is calling for a trial of age verification on social media platforms, aiming to protect young children from harmful content. This follows a legal dispute between the government and tech billionaire Elon Musk over his platform X's refusal to block access to a violent video.
Shadow Communications Minister David Coleman argues that social media is detrimental to children's mental health and advocates for age verification to restrict their access. He cites evidence from other countries, such as the US states implementing age verification laws for pornography and social media.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland acknowledges the importance of protecting children online and confirms that age verification is under consideration as part of a broader review of Australia's online safety regime. However, she emphasizes the complexity of the issue and the lack of a single solution.
The government's formal response to the eSafety commissioner's Age Verification Roadmap in August 2022 acknowledged the immaturity of age assurance technologies but recognized their potential for development. Concerns regarding privacy, security, and effectiveness were also raised.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk's hostility towards Australian politicians continues. He attacked Senator Jacqui Lambie for deleting her X account and accused her of having "utter contempt for the Australian people." Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume expressed her disapproval of X, stating that she would follow Senator Lambie's example and delete her account upon retiring from politics.