Technical News Office –In Australia, a bill aimed at keeping children under 16 away from internet media was passed by the House of Representatives on Wednesday. It has now been sent to the Senate. This bill has the support of the main parties in the country. 102 votes were cast in favor and 13 against. Once the bill passes, platforms will have a year to determine how they will enforce age restrictions. It will be the responsibility of TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit and X, Instagram, etc. to make arrangements so that children cannot create and use accounts here. Platforms that fail to do so will be fined $33 million, or more than Rs 2.5 billion.
Platforms will not be able to request government documents
Opposition lawmaker Dan Tehan told parliament the government had agreed to accept amendments in the Senate that would strengthen privacy protections. Platforms will not be allowed to require users to provide government-issued identity documents, including passports or driving licenses. Additionally, platforms cannot require a digital identity. ‘Would that be correct? No. But is any law correct? No, that’s not correct at all. But if it helps, even if it helps in the smallest way, it will make a huge difference to people’s lives,” Tehan told Parliament.
The bill was introduced in the Senate on Wednesday evening, but hours later it was adjourned for the day without being put to a vote. The bill is expected to be passed on Thursday, in the last session of Parliament this year and perhaps the last before elections due in a few months.
These are the reviews
Support from major parties allowed the bill to pass the Senate, where no party has a majority. During the debate on Tuesday and Wednesday, lawmakers not affiliated with the government or opposition were the most critical of the bill. Critics say the bill was rushed through Parliament, without adequate review, and will not work. This will pose a threat to the privacy of users of all ages and take away parents’ rights to decide what is best for their children.
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