SYDNEY: Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated on Sunday (Dec 1) that criticism by Elon Musk of Australia’s social media ban on children under 16 was the X proprietor pushing an agenda for the social platform, whereas indicating he was open to speak to the billionaire concerning the ban, legislated this week.
Australia authorized the social media ban for youngsters late on Thursday after an emotive debate that has gripped the nation, setting a benchmark for jurisdictions world wide with one of many hardest laws focusing on Huge Tech.
The ban, which the centre-left authorities says is world-leading, might pressure Australia’s relationship with key ally america, the place Musk, a central determine within the administration of president-elect Donald Trump, stated in a publish this month it appeared a “backdoor technique to management entry to the Web by all Australians”.
Albanese, requested on Sunday if he was ready to speak to Musk concerning the social media ban stated: “We’ll discuss to anybody”.
“With regard to Elon Musk, he has an agenda, he is entitled to push that because the proprietor of X, previously often called Twitter,” Albanese added in remarks on Australian Broadcasting Corp tv.
The legislation forces tech giants from Instagram and Fb proprietor Meta, to TikTok to cease minors logging in or face fines of as much as A$49.5 million (US$32 million). A trial of enforcement strategies begins in January with the ban to take impact in a yr.
“We’re decided to get this performed, the parliament has overwhelmingly handed this laws,” Albanese informed the broadcaster.
X didn’t instantly reply to a Reuters request for remark exterior of enterprise hours.
Albanese’s Labor get together gained essential help from the opposition conservatives for the invoice that was fast-tracked by the nation’s parliament as a part of 31 Payments pushed by in a chaotic closing day of parliament for the yr.
