Musk pushing own agenda on socal media ban issue, says Aussie PM
1. Debate surrounding ban has been highly emotional, drawing attention both domestically and internationally
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has responded to Elon Musk’s criticism of the country’s newly enacted social media ban for children under 16, suggesting that Musk, as the owner of X (formerly Twitter), was promoting his own agenda, according to Reuters.
The law, passed by the Australian government late last week, aims to restrict social media access for minors, making it one of the strictest regulations globally targeting Big Tech. The debate surrounding the measure has sparked intense emotions and garnered significant attention both in Australia and abroad.
Musk criticized the legislation, claiming that it seemed like a “backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians,” raising concerns that the law could damage Australia’s relationship with the United States, where Musk is a well-known figure.
In response, Albanese said he was open to discussing the issue with Musk but emphasized that the government’s primary objective was to protect children from the harmful effects of social media. “We’ll talk to anyone,” Albanese stated, acknowledging Musk’s right to express his views as the owner of X.
The law, which applies to tech giants such as Meta (Instagram and Facebook) and TikTok, requires platforms to block minors from logging in or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million). Enforcement will begin with a trial in January, with full implementation expected a year later.
Despite the international controversy, Albanese highlighted the overwhelming support the bill received in Parliament and expressed confidence that the legislation would proceed as planned.
The law was fast-tracked through Parliament during the dramatic final day of the session, receiving vital backing from opposition conservatives. X did not respond to Reuters' request for comment.
