Australia proposes doubling Big Tech fines to A$99m and expanding eSafety powers for under-16 social media ban enforcement
Summary
Australia is introducing new legislation to double maximum fines for Big Tech from A$49.5m to A$99m for systemic breaches of the under-16 social media ban. The bill expands the eSafety Commissioner's investigative powers to compel documents, board minutes, and internal emails from platforms, age-checking firms, and app stores. Since the ban took effect on December 10 under the Online Safety Amendment Act, over five million under-16 accounts have been blocked. The regulator is investigating potential breaches by Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube for failing to take required reasonable steps.
Source
bskyAustralia proposes doubling Big Tech fines to A$99m and expanding eSafety powers for under-16 social media ban enforcementbriefly.coKey quotes
· 5 pulledNew legislation would roughly double the maximum penalty for systemic breaches from A$49.5m to A$99m (about $68m).
It would expand the eSafety Commissioner's investigative powers to require documents and evidence from platforms, age-checking companies, and app stores.
The commissioner could compel internal materials including board minutes and internal emails to strengthen enforcement cases.
The ban began 10 December under the Online Safety Amendment Act, and more than five million under-16 accounts have been blocked.
The regulator is investigating possible breaches by Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube after earlier compliance work found they did not take required reasonable steps.
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