Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of social media platform X (formerly Twitter), has openly criticized Australia’s proposed law to ban social media access for children under 16. The law also threatens hefty fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for companies failing to comply with the rules.
Australia’s center-left government introduced the controversial bill on Thursday. It plans to implement a strict age-verification system, creating some of the toughest social media regulations globally.
Musk, a vocal advocate for free speech, called the proposal a “backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians.” He shared his remarks in response to a post by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on X.
While many countries are working to regulate social media usage among children, Australia’s approach could become one of the harshest. Unlike similar policies in other nations, it does not allow exemptions for parental consent or pre-existing accounts.
For comparison, France proposed banning social media for children under 15 last year but included parental consent as an option. In the U.S., technology companies have long been required to obtain parental approval to collect data from users under 13.
Musk’s comments reflect broader concerns about the balance between protecting children online and maintaining free Internet access. Critics argue that age-verification systems could lead to privacy issues and overreach by authorities.
This is not Musk’s first clash with Australia’s Labor government. He previously labeled them “fascists” over their misinformation laws. Earlier this year, X challenged an Australian cyber regulator’s order to remove posts about a bishop’s stabbing in Sydney. That move prompted Albanese to call Musk an “arrogant billionaire.”
The proposed bill has sparked global debate, highlighting the tension between safeguarding young users and preserving online freedoms. Musk’s outspoken criticism has drawn even more attention to the issue, with many awaiting the law’s potential implications.
