Social media companies, which include anonymous forums like
Reddit and smartphone dating apps like Bumble, would also be required to take
all reasonable steps to determine users' ages and prioritise children's
interests when collecting data, the Online Privacy Bill said.
The new proposed rules would put Australia among the most
stringent countries in terms of age controls for social media, and build on
efforts to rein in the power of Big Tech following mandatory licencing payments
for media outlets and plans to toughen laws against online misinformation and
defamation.
Facebook this month faced anger from US lawmakers after a
former company employee and whistleblower handed thousands of documents to
congressional investigators amid concerns the company harmed children's mental
health and has stoked societal divisions — a development cited by Australian
lawmakers on Monday.
"We are ensuring (Australians') data and privacy will
be protected and handled with care," said Attorney-General Michaelia Cash
in a statement.
"Our draft legislations means that these companies will
be punished heavily if they don't meet that standard," she added.
Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
David Coleman said the "leak of Facebook's own internal research
demonstrates the impact social media platforms can have on body image and the
mental health of young people".
Facebook's director of public policy in Australia and New
Zealand, Mia Garlick, said in a statement that the company was reviewing the
proposed law and understood "the importance of ensuring Australia's
privacy laws evolve at a comparable pace to the rate of innovation and new technology
we're experiencing today".
Under the draft law, privacy watchdog the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner would receive full investigation and enforcement powers, with the ability to fine a corporation up to AUD 10 million, 10 percent its annual turnover or three times the financial benefit of any breach. © Reuters
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