Home / Technology / Age Check Tech Works, But Platforms Won't Use It: Australia
Age Check Tech Works, But Platforms Won't Use It: Australia
22 Apr
Summary
- Industry body claims age verification tools are capable but poorly applied.
- Regulators are investigating major tech firms for suspected breaches of the ban.
- Fines can reach A$49.5 million for each breach of the under-16 social media rule.
Problems enforcing Australia's ban on social media use for users under 16 stem from platforms' inadequate application of available age-checking tools, according to the Age Verification Providers Association (AVPA). This assertion pushes back against social media companies' claims of insufficient technology. The AVPA stated that the capability for age verification exists, but platforms fail to apply it consistently at crucial points like account sign-up.
Australia's eSafety Commissioner is currently investigating Meta, Google, TikTok, and Snap for suspected breaches of the ban, which came into effect in December. Companies face significant penalties, including fines of up to A$49.5 million for each violation. Regulatory data indicates millions of suspected under-age accounts have been removed since the law's inception.
The AVPA's report highlighted that weaknesses in enforcement are largely driven by platform behavior, such as over-reliance on internal age-inference models and limited re-verification of existing accounts. Independent testing and early live deployments suggested that the age assurance products can operate accurately at scale when properly implemented.
