Australia Sues Meta, TikTok and Other Platforms for Violating Social Media Ban

The Australian government is suing five platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube, accusing them of failing to comply with a social media ban for users under the age of 16. The Australian eSafety Commissioner launched an investigation into these platforms in March of this year. A report in July revealed that most underage users were still able to retain or create accounts, primarily due to the platforms' lack of effective age verification. Nearly a year into the ban, the government has doubled the maximum fine for violations to AUD 109.2 million (approximately USD 76 million) and expanded its investigative powers to require platforms to submit documents and summon employees. Communications Minister Anika Wells stated that eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant is preparing to file a lawsuit in federal court using these powers. Meta and eSafety have not yet responded to the matter.