Key points
- Ban starting in December will target under-16s
- Facial tech unreliable near age threshold: report
- Experts urge focus on harmful content
ISLAMABAD: Australia’s upcoming ban on social media use for children under 16 could be enforced through several technologies, but all methods carry risks and limitations, according to a government-commissioned report.
Set to take effect in December, the ban requires platforms to take “reasonable steps” to block minors from creating accounts and deactivate existing ones. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to $50 million for companies.
Study
The study, conducted by the UK-based Age Check Certification Scheme, reviewed methods ranging from government ID checks to parental approval and facial recognition systems. While all were deemed technically feasible, none offered a foolproof solution. Identity verification was the most accurate but raised major concerns over data security, given Australia’s history of large-scale breaches.
Facial recognition proved 92 per cent accurate for adults but faltered around the 16-year threshold, creating a risk of both false approvals and rejections. Parental consent methods also drew criticism over reliability and privacy.
Layered approach
The report recommended a layered approach combining multiple tools, while also warning that workarounds such as forged documents and VPNs remained challenges.
Communications Minister Anika Wells said tech giants had a responsibility to implement effective systems, calling December’s deadline non-negotiable.
Although polling shows strong public support, some experts warn the policy could isolate young people or push them toward unsafe online spaces, urging the government to also focus on harmful content regulation.
