In a surprising turn of events, the Australian Greens and One Nation have found common ground in their opposition to the Albanese government’s hasty push to ban social media for those under the age of 16. The unlikely allies argue that the government is attempting to “ram” the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 through Parliament without adequate expert review or public consultation.
Senate Hearing Raises Concerns Over Rushed Process
The controversy came to a head during a Senate committee hearing on Monday, where mental health experts, privacy advocates, digital platform representatives, and the Department of Communications were given a mere four hours to present evidence on the far-reaching legislation. Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young decried the “very rushed” and “very inadequate” process, noting that a crucial online safety review had been “kept secret from the public” and the Senate.
This is why this is such a joke. A piece of legislation is being rammed through that relates directly to the issues that were raised in this review … It’s been kept secret from the public, secret from the Senate, and you’re asking us to ram through a piece of legislation without any evidence.
– Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young
One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts echoed Hanson-Young’s sentiments, expressing his agreement with a resounding “Hear, hear.” The unlikely alliance between the left-wing Greens and the right-wing One Nation party underscores the depth of concern over the government’s approach to this sensitive issue.
Ambiguity Over Platforms Included in Ban
Adding to the confusion, the legislation grants the minister discretionary power to determine which platforms will be subject to the ban at a later date. While platforms owned by Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat have been indicated as likely targets, the lack of clarity in the bill itself has been labeled a “serious flaw” by industry groups such as Digi.
The bill doesn’t make it clear who is in or out of scope. And to us, that is a really serious flaw in the bill, but it is absolutely unclear who is in or out, and we don’t know what criteria will be used to determine these exemptions.
– Dr Jennifer Duxbury, Head of Policy at Digi
Age Verification Concerns for All Users
The proposed age assurance system has also raised eyebrows, with Digi managing director Sunita Bose warning that it would affect every user, not just those under 16. To verify ages, both young people and adults may be required to provide identification, facial images, or links to government digital ID systems on a regular basis.
To verifiably know whether someone is 14 or 40, young people and adults alike will need to take regular actions like providing an ID, an image of their face, or link to myGovID.
– Sunita Bose, Managing Director at Digi
Some Coalition MPs have expressed reservations about the potential use of the federal government’s digital ID system for age verification purposes, with Nationals leader David Littleproud seeking to rule it out entirely. LNP Senator Matt Canavan pressed the Department of Communications to identify where in the legislation the use of digital ID was expressly prohibited, arguing that the Senate had only one chance to get the law right.
Thousands Flood Senate Inquiry with Submissions
The public response to the proposed ban has been swift and substantial, with the Senate committee reportedly receiving over 15,000 submissions in the short window provided for feedback. The high volume of responses suggests a strong public interest in the issue and a desire for thorough consideration of the legislation’s implications.
In their written submissions, major platforms like Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) raised questions about the lawfulness of the bill, while Snapchat parent company Snap argued that the ban lacked evidence-based support from relevant experts. Both companies indicated they were exploring age assurance options in response to the proposed legislation.
Alternative Approaches Proposed
Independent MP Zoe Daniel has put forward a private member’s bill that would require platforms to make their algorithms safer or face substantial fines, positioning it as a preferable alternative to an outright ban. The Greens have thrown their support behind Daniel’s bill, with Senator Hanson-Young planning to introduce amendments to the government’s legislation that would impose a “duty of care” obligation on platforms – a measure the Albanese government had previously announced it would address at a later stage.
As the final sitting days of Parliament for 2024 approach, the Senate committee is expected to deliver its report on the social media age ban bill on Tuesday. With the government pushing to pass the legislation before the year’s end, the Greens, One Nation, and concerned MPs from across the political spectrum are gearing up for a fierce debate over the bill’s merits and the manner in which it has been introduced.
The outcome of this legislative battle could have far-reaching consequences for the way Australians of all ages interact with social media platforms and the extent to which the government can regulate the online sphere in the name of protecting children. As the unlikely alliance of the Greens and One Nation demonstrates, the issue has the potential to cut across traditional political lines and spark a broader conversation about the balance between online safety, privacy rights, and freedom of expression in the digital age.
