The move follows the world’s first restrictions, which took effect in December. The policy is being closely watched by several countries seeking to adopt similar measures, as evidence suggests children are still able to access social media platforms.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said too many children remained on social media and technology companies were not doing enough to comply with the law.
“We’re calling time on the social media companies today and doubling down on the changes that we have made and that we’re prepared to make,” he told reporters in Canberra.
“Today, we’ll introduce legislation this afternoon that goes further to ensure social media companies are doing everything within their power to stop children under 16 from being on their platforms.”
The regulator is investigating possible non-compliance by five platforms: Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and Google’s YouTube.
The regulator is investigating possible non-compliance by five platforms: Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and Google’s YouTube.
There was no immediate comment from Meta, Google or Snapchat, while TikTok declined to comment.
Albanese urged the conservative coalition opposition to back the bill, noting that the original policy had passed with bipartisan support.
The changes, announced on Sunday, would double fines to A$99 million ($68.2 million) from A$49.5 million.
The amendments would also give the eSafety Commissioner the authority to compel companies to hand over documents, including board minutes and internal emails, helping ensure legal cases against platforms that fail to comply are as “strong as possible”, Communications Minister Anika Wells said.
“My message to Big Tech is this: we are not stopping. Every effort you make to frustrate these laws will be met with our efforts to make these laws work,” she said.
“If the eSafety Commissioner finds companies are not doing everything they can to comply, they will face the full force of the law.”
($1 = 1.4518 Australian dollars)