Tech mogul claps back at Anthony Albanese after announcing this bill

In a world where social media has been used by almost everyone in the world, the Australian government's latest move to regulate its use among children has sparked a fiery debate.

The conversation took an unexpected turn when tech mogul Elon Musk weighed in, delivering a sharp critique that has sent ripples through the internet.



Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's announcement of a bill that would require Australians to be over 16 to use many popular social media apps, including Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, and X (a platform owned by Musk), has been met with mixed reactions.

Musk, who has been vocal about his stance on free speech and the open internet, took to social media to express his concerns.


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Elon Musk replied to Anthony Albanese’s announcement of a bill on restricting social media to children under 16. Credit: @elonmusk / Twitter and @albomp / Instagram


'Seems like a backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians,' Musk said.

Musk's comments come at a time when the balance between protecting young internet users and preserving digital freedoms is being hotly contested.

The tech billionaire, who famously acquired X (formerly known as Twitter) in 2022, has been dubbed 'First Buddy' due to his rapport with United States President-elect Donald Trump.

The proposed ban has raised practical questions about its enforcement, with Greens senator David Shoebridge inquiring in a Senate Committee hearing whether it would necessitate age verification for all Australian social media users.



The response from James Chisolm, Deputy Secretary of Communications and Media, was a simple 'yes’.

The government has assured that tech companies would be prohibited from retaining information collected during the verification process, but concerns about privacy and data security persist.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has defended the bill, stating that it aims to redefine the role of social media in Australian society, particularly for the younger generation.

‘This bill seeks to set a new normative value in society that accessing social media is not the defining feature of growing up in Australia,' she said.

'There is wide acknowledgement that something must be done in the immediate term to help prevent young teens and children from being exposed to streams of unfiltered content.’



As the details of the ban continue to be hashed out in Parliament, tech companies are being put on notice. Those that fail to comply with the new regulations could face hefty fines of up to $50 million.

The legislation, if passed, would give platforms a year to establish and implement age verification processes.

Certain services, such as Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, Kids Helpline, Google Classroom, and YouTube, are expected to be exempt from the ban or considered ‘out-of-scope services’.

Opposition communications spokesman David Coleman has accused social media companies that they had ‘ 'abrogated their responsibility to care about Australian children' for too long.

'We look forward to working constructively on this legislation with a view to seeing it passed through the parliament next week,' he said.



The eSafety Commissioner's office has highlighted the importance of age assurance but also calls for a comprehensive approach.

'We must also continue working to ensure online services are safe by design and to build children's digital literacy, resilience and critical reasoning skills so that when they are of age to use these services...they are equipped for the online world,' it said.

The Australian Human Rights Commission has voiced concerns about the potential human rights implications of the ban on young people, pointing to the need for a balanced approach that safeguards children without unduly restricting their freedoms.
Key Takeaways
  • Elon Musk criticises the Australian government's plan to impose a social media ban for children, suggesting it could lead to broader internet restrictions.
  • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has introduced a bill that would require users to be over 16 for many popular social media apps.
  • There is bipartisan political support for the proposed social media ban, although some debate exists over its effectiveness.
  • The bill, which is set to reshape Australia's relationship with social media, will enforce age verification and include potential fines for companies that fail to comply.
What are your thoughts on this contentious issue? Do you agree with Musk's perspective, or do you believe the government's proposed ban is a necessary step to protect children? Share your views with us in the comments below.
 

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If this bill can save young children from cyber bulling resulting in suicide then I'm all for it and ther countries can go .... themselves
I doubt that it will. I agree with the other comments that parents must step up to the plate. They are the parents - not the children - who should be having control over what they are doing. It is not the role of the Govt. to do that. If parents were not suited to being a parent then they should not have had children.
 
How will parents police their children's access to the internet when they can resource it through the school environment, public libraries and public wi-fi which is available in shopping centres and the like?

That is the dilemma that many people do not consider.

I am sure that there are squillions of teenagers out there who are way more tech savvy out there who are capable of circumventing the system.
Kids are certainly very tech savvy but at the end of the day, you can teach them what they should not do regarding the internet and explain why. That would be a start. Also, note any changes in their behaviour which might indicate that they might be affected by something they access on the internet. Parenting is a full time job.
 
I agree with you.
Banning under 16 year olds would have a similar effect on you people who keep in touch with family (grandparents etc) who live overseas.
This whole legislation is once again a knee jerk Albanese legislation that will not work.
It is all about power and control and restriction of peoples rights.
It is about time parents took control of their children‘s activities.
But then again parents are unable to discipline their children anymore due to government legislation!
After a very uncomfortable and short train ride this afternoon just after school closing time I think banning 16-year-olds and under ENTIRELY would be a great idea!
 
I have to agree with that, I was lucky, I brought my kids up in the 80s and 90s when they still liked playing outside, even in their adult years they weren't interested in social media, games etc, they loved getting out and about.
Although my son did serve a prison term for 18 months, he's since passed away, but I don't condone what he did but I kind of understand why he did it, which I won't go into here, but I loved him no less and it wasn't the fact that he had a bad upbringing, I wished I was my own child, if that makes sense, I made their lives fun most of the time, with strict rules.
Parents now days don't give a toss or are helpless to do anything due to Government rules regarding punishing your child.
Not spanking your child for one, unheard of in my days, if my kids deserved a smacked leg or backside they got one!
Sorry to hear about you son but like you I brought my kids up in the same era and yes they got the occasional smack but they were taught respect for everyone..
 

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