Australia eSafety Commissioner targets platforms over under-16 accounts despite law
Australia's eSafety Commissioner is taking on big platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube for not stopping kids under 16 from making accounts, despite a law that's been in place since Dec. 10.
Even though these companies have deactivated 5 million Australian accounts, plenty of underage users are still slipping through the cracks by getting around age checks.
Platforms could face AU$49.5 million fines
Snapchat says it's locked 450,000 accounts and is trying to follow the rules.
Meta (that's Facebook and Instagram) says it wants to comply too but points out that online age checks aren't easy.
Meanwhile, some groups argue the law goes too far and have taken their case to Australia's High Court.
If the platforms are found guilty of breaking the rules, they could face fines of up to AU$49.5 million (about US$33 million).
The main goal? Keeping young people safer online.