Australia has doubled the maximum penalty for social media companies that fail to comply with its ban on under-16s, a move that signals Canberra’s hardening stance on platform accountability. The revised legislation, passed on Tuesday, raises the fine to 100 million Australian dollars (around 55 million British pounds) for persistent non-compliance. The ban, which restricts children under 16 from accessing platforms including Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat, was introduced last year and has drawn interest from other governments.
In Westminster, sources confirm that the UK government is examining similar measures framed as a mechanism to protect national sovereignty. Officials argue that social media algorithms, often controlled from headquarters in California, undermine domestic law and cultural norms. The proposed British bill would require platforms to verify user ages and restrict content deemed harmful to minors.
Critics warn that such legislation risks overreach and could be challenged under free trade agreements. However, advocates point to Australia’s experience as evidence that bold regulatory action is possible without triggering a mass exodus of tech investment. The Australian Communications and Media Authority will enforce the new penalties, with the first compliance deadline set for December 2025.
The UK’s Online Safety Act already includes provisions for age verification, but the mooted sovereignty legislation would go further, potentially requiring platforms to store user data on UK servers and submit to jurisdiction of British courts. The debate underscores a growing global trend: governments asserting authority over digital spaces long dominated by American firms. As one Whitehall insider put it: “This is about ensuring that what is illegal offline is illegal online.
” The Australian penalty increase takes effect immediately.
