PM Albanese responds to Musk’s criticism of Australia’s social media ban for children
SYDNEY – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday that Elon Musk’s criticism of Australia’s social media ban on children under 16 was driven by the X owner’s agenda for the platform. However, he also indicated that he was open to discussing the ban with the billionaire, which was legislated earlier this week.
Australia approved the social media ban for children late Thursday, following an intense national debate. The move sets a global benchmark with one of the toughest regulations targeting Big Tech.
Musk, recently nominated as Donald Trump’s government efficiency chief in the incoming US administration, posted this month that the ban appeared to be a “backdoor way to control access to the Internet for all Australians.”
In this respect, the ban and the tense relationship with Musk could complicate Australia’s relationship with its key ally, the United States.
When asked on Sunday if he was prepared to talk to Musk about the social media ban, Albanese said, “We’ll talk to anyone.”
“With regard to Elon Musk, he has an agenda, he’s entitled to push that as the owner of X, formerly known as Twitter,” Albanese added in remarks on Australian Broadcasting Corp. television.
The law forces tech giants from Instagram and Facebook owner Meta META.O. to TikTok to stop minors logging in or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million). A trial of enforcement methods starts in January, with the ban to take effect in a year.
“We are determined to get this done, the parliament has overwhelmingly passed this legislation,” Albanese told the broadcaster.
Albanese’s Labour Party won crucial support from the opposition conservatives for the bill that was fast-tracked through the country’s parliament as part of 31 bills pushed through in a chaotic final day of parliament for the year.
