Overview
- The federal government announced on Saturday that it will raise the maximum penalty for systemic breaches from A$49.5 million to A$99 million and give the eSafety Commissioner broader powers to compel evidence from companies.
- The eSafety regulator is actively investigating possible non‑compliance by five major platforms — Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, Google’s YouTube, Snap’s Snapchat and TikTok — as part of the tougher enforcement push.
- A University of Newcastle study published in the BMJ found about 85 percent of 12–15 year‑olds were still using restricted platforms three months after the ban, with children bypassing checks by lying about their age, using fake accounts, or signing in with friends’ accounts.
- The proposed law would let the commissioner demand documents and testimony not only from platforms but also from third parties such as age‑verification firms and app‑store providers, and the government intends to introduce the changes before parliament rises for its winter break on July 2.
- The move sharpens a global test case: ministers say stronger tools are needed to hold Big Tech to account, tech firms warn the measures risk pushing teens to less regulated corners of the internet, and legal challenges including Reddit’s court case remain unresolved.