Social media companies will have to detect and deactivate underage accounts and prevent children re-registering under Australia’s world-first ban for kids.
Guidelines for social media platforms to comply with the age restriction laws will be released by Communications Minister Anika Wells and e-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant on Tuesday.
Platforms will be expected to find and deactivate or remove underage accounts, in addition to preventing users under the age of 16 circumventing the rules.
Reliance on self-declaration alone will not be considered sufficient to meet the legal obligation.
Social media sites will not be expected to verify the age of all users as blanket checks might be considered unreasonable.
The guidance is also considered “principles-based”, meaning platforms are not required to use specific technologies, including those tested in the age assurance trial.
Under the laws, social media companies are prohibited from forcing users to hand over government ID to prove their age online.
Failure by platforms to take “reasonable steps” to comply with the laws from December 10 will risk fines up to $49.5 million.
The Australian community was relying on social media companies to keep young people safe online, Ms Wells said.
“This industry guidance makes clear our strong expectations that social media platforms step up to the plate to implement the minimum age in a way that is effective, private, and fair on Australian users,” she said.
“The government has done the work to ensure that platforms have the information they need to comply with the new laws, and it’s now on them to take the necessary steps.”
Ms Wells said eSafety’s guidance made clear platforms must provide “transparent and accessible information to their users about their age assurance systems”.
The trial evaluated more than 60 tools which found technology could be used to successfully prevent children from accessing explicit and inappropriate content.
Available technologies could ensure the laws were enforced “privately, efficiently and effectively”.
But the report warned unnecessary data retention could take place if tech giants anticipated future regulation.
This raised concerns about an increased risk of privacy breaches due to collection and retention of data.
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