Australia social media teen ban software trial organisers say the tech works, World News
The view from the government-commissioned Age Assurance Technology Trial of more than 1,000 Australian school students and hundreds of adults is a boost to the country's plan to keep under 16s off social media.
From December, in a world first ban, companies like Facebook and Instagram owner Meta, Snapchat and TikTok must prove they are taking reasonable steps to block young people from their platforms or face a fine of up to A$49.5 million (S$41 million).
Since the Australian government announced the legislation last year, child protection advocates, tech industry groups and children themselves have questioned whether the ban can be enforced due to workarounds like Virtual Private Networks, which obscure an internet user's location.
"Age assurance can be done in Australia privately, efficiently and effectively," said Tony Allen, CEO of the Age Check Certification Scheme, the UK-based organisation overseeing the Australian trial.
The trial found "no significant tech barriers" to rolling out a software-based scheme in Australia, although there was "no one-size-fits-all solution, and no solution that worked perfectly in all deployments," Allen added in an online presentation.
Allen noted that some age-assurance software firms "don't really know at this stage what data they may need to be able to support law enforcement and regulators in the future.
"There's a risk there that they could be inadvertently over-collecting information that wouldn't be used or needed."
Organisers of the trial, which concluded earlier this month, gave no data findings and offered only a broad overview which did not name individual products. They will deliver a report to the government next month which officials have said will inform an industry consultation ahead of the December deadline.
A spokesperson for the office of the eSafety Commissioner, which will advise the government on how to implement the ban, said the preliminary findings were a "useful indication of the likely outcomes from the trial.
[[nid:705771]]
"We are pleased to see the trial suggests that age assurance technologies, when deployed the right way and likely in conjunction with other techniques and methods, can be private, robust and effective," the spokesperson said.
The Australian ban is being watched closely around the world with several governments exploring ways to limit children's exposure to social media.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
30 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Why should we bear the burden of budget meals and app discounts, hawkers ask
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Hawkers say app should be a value-added service by the operator and costs should not be passed on. SINGAPORE – When Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre's management announced it would scrap clauses requiring hawkers to provide free meals for the needy at their own cost, the update was met with relief by hawkers. But many question why they continue to be called upon to provide budget meals and discounts to diners who pay using operator apps. The Pay-it-Forward initiative by Canopy Hawkers Group, which manages the Socially-conscious Enterprise Hawker Centre (SEHC), initially required stallholders to contribute 100 free meals over three years. It was criticised by veteran food critic K.F. Seetoh in an Aug 8 Facebook post that described it as 'forced charity'. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung – who oversees the ward where the hawker centre is located – waded into the debate on Aug 11 , writing on Facebook that hawkers did not face penalties if they did not provide the meals. However, copies of the contract shown to the media, including The Straits Times, indicated that hawkers could chalk up demerit points for failing to provide the meals. The management team later said on Aug 15 that it would not enforce the obligation in the future. 'Some stalls are not doing well, so it's better not to force them,' says John (not his real name), a hawker in his 50s, who runs one of the 44 stalls there. Like many of the tenants ST spoke to, he declined to reveal his name for fear of repercussions from his operator. Another hawker, who is also in his 50s, adds: 'Doing charity is voluntary, not by force.' But many hawkers lament that they are still obliged to provide budget meals under $3.50 and pay for discounts given to diners using operator apps. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Emergency broadcast system to alert S'pore public to disasters via their mobile phones: Edwin Tong Singapore Judge finds SBS Transit '100% responsible' in lawsuit filed by woman who was trapped in train doors Singapore COE premiums up in all categories except motorcycles; Cat A price climbs 2.5% to $104,524 Singapore Grab users in Singapore shocked by fares of over $1,000 due to display glitch Singapore No throttling for MyRepublic broadband users after sale to StarHub Life S'pore bands mark milestones with gigs: Silver Strings at 60, Mel & Joe at 55 and Lovehunters at 40 Singapore Singapore indie cinema The Projector owes over $1.2m to creditors Asia Calls to cut ties: Malaysia flag furore tests PH-BN relations Absorbing discounts A 2022 version of the contract seen by The Straits Times states that hawkers could face three demerit points and $30 in liquidated damages for 'failure to use Bukit Canberra HC mobile apps for customers to place orders, make payment'. Hawkers say the app was intended for the convenience of customers and should be a value-added service by the operator. 'Its cost should not be passed on to the tenants,' says John, who has to absorb the 10 per cent discount customers get from the Food Canopy app. On top of that, a credit note shows he is charged a 0.8 per cent transaction fee when payment is made via the app. 'Hawker prices are controlled and many have thin margins due to rising costs. This just makes things harder.' Tenants at other SEHCs, run by FairPrice Group Hawker Centre and Timbre Hawkers, have similar obligations. Customers who pay using the app enjoy a 10 per cent discount on meals at One Punggol Hawker Centre and Yishun Park Hawker Centre, according to Timbre Group's website. 'We lose a thousand dollars every month from the Timbre app,' says a 42-year-old who wanted to be known only as Rahman. He sells rojak and prata at One Punggol. However, he concedes that it was something he had agreed to when signing the contract. Mr Yasser Farag, who runs Arabica Kebab stall in the same centre, was also prepared to offer concessions to customers, though the number of discounts caught him by surprise. 'I knew that I had to keep prices low, but I didn't expect so many people to have the app,' says the 58-year-old, who maintains that his experience at the hawker centre has otherwise been smooth. Another hawker, who is in her late 50s, says prevalent usage of the app costs her around a thousand dollars each month. With the price of ingredients and utilities rising, her earnings have been shaved by a fifth. 'I can't afford to raise prices either, because I empathise with customers,' she adds. Echoing the same sentiment is Ms Kumiko Tan, 44, owner of Hakka Leipopo, a chain with outlets in SEHCs, such as Anchorvale Village Hawker Centre and Punggol Coast Hawker Centre, both run by FairPrice Group. 'Times are hard for everyone. We won't change the price of food to account for the discount,' she says. The cost of her dishes remains consistent across all outlets, even the one at the Tanjong Pagar Town Council-run Bukit Merah View Market & Hawker Centre. Roughly 80 per cent of her customers at Anchorvale Village and Punggol Coast pay with the FairPrice Group app, which yields a 10 per cent discount. She adds: 'I don't think many of them know that the discount is paid for by the store owner. They think maybe it's from the Government or the operator.' Discounts offered through FairPrice Group app on display at Anchorvale Village Hawker Centre. ST PHOTO: CHERIE LOK But some hawkers, like a 38-year-old man operating a stall at Anchorvale Village Hawker Centre, feel the 10 per cent cut is fair, as the app helps boost business. 'It's a perk that, in a way, attracts customers,' he says. How cheap is too cheap The discount, however, cannot be applied to budget meals, which are low-cost dishes that tenants at SEHCs are obliged to offer – contractually, in the case of Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre's tenants, at least. At hawker centres operated by FairPrice Group, these affordable options are usually priced between $3 and $3.50, according to checks by ST. Adam (not his real name), a hawker who runs a stall at Hawker Centre @ Our Tampines Hub, says that $3.50 is a manageable price point for budget meals. When ST spoke to him in June 2024 , his budget meals were fixed at $2.80. Back then, a spokesperson for operator FairPrice Group confirmed budget meals at that particular hawker centre cost $2.80, but that the company was conducting a review. Since the budget meal price has increased to $3.50, Adam says it is 'much more reasonable'. 'At least now, I can make around 20 to 30 cents in profit for each meal,' he adds. He previously told ST it was 'impossible to make a profit' from $2.80 meals. According to hawkers, few customers opt for budget meals. Portions tend to be smaller and often omit more expensive proteins such as meat. 'I can't make money off it, but maybe only five to 10 people each month buy my budget meals, so still can tahan (endure in Malay),' says a 45-year-old hawker, who wants to be known only as Hasan, at Buangkok Hawker Centre. But Penang Alley's $3.20 budget meals are snapped up by some 50 customers each month. Mrs Eileen Leong, the 57-year-old owner of the Buangkok Hawker Centre stall, says such meals, which consist of mainly eggs and kway teow, are 'unsustainable'. She tried asking her operator, Fei Siong Social Enterprise, to increase the budget meal price to $4 without success. With operation costs spiking 50 per cent and footfall down three-quarters by her estimates, she is seeking a reprieve. 'I'm hoping the Government can help lighten our burden, and we hope to get more grants to sustain this business,' she says. The National Environment Agency (NEA) told The Straits Times that in 2023, the median monthly stall rental at SEHCs and non-subsidised stalls at comparable NEA-managed hawker centres were $1,700 and $1,625 respectively. Ancillary costs at SEHCs, such as table-cleaning and centralised dishwashing fees, are comparable with similar NEA-managed hawker centres, it added. The agency also assists hawkers financially through schemes such as the Hawkers' Productivity Grant, which provides 80 per cent co-funding for hawkers to buy kitchen automation equipment and digital solutions such as queue management systems. ST has contacted the relevant operators for more information. Timbre Group declined to comment, while the rest have yet to respond.
Business Times
2 hours ago
- Business Times
Temasek weighs major overhaul to improve returns
[SINGAPORE] Temasek Holdings is mulling one of its biggest overhauls in years, potentially reorganising the firm into three investment vehicles in a bid to boost returns and efficiencies, according to people familiar with the matter. Under the proposal still being discussed at senior levels, Singapore's state-owned investor could divide its business into three arms. One would focus on Temasek's biggest domestic holdings such as Singapore Airlines, and another would oversee largely foreign investments. A third unit would include all of Temasek's fund investments, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing a private matter. The move, which remains fluid and subject to change, would fundamentally restructure the 51-year-old investment giant amid rising pressure to deliver higher returns and streamline its operations. While Temasek's net portfolio value hit a record high of S$434 billion as of March 31, its 10-year total shareholder return of 5 per cent – a compounded and annualised measure that includes dividends – just matched that of its larger but more conservative Singaporean peer GIC. It underperformed the MSCI World Index, which returned an annualised 10 per cent in the decade through March 2025. Temasek is currently run in a conventional manner, with different executives responsible for investing across various assets and geographies, such as real estate or China. If the reorganisation proceeds, it would enable key executives to better focus their attention on improving the firm's performance and efficiency, the people said. Temasek didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up A shift could be announced in coming months, though the plan could be deployed sooner, the people said. Temasek's new chairman, Teo Chee Hean, is set to start on Oct 9, after joining as deputy chairman in July. Singapore's Formula One Grand Prix in early October, where Temasek typically sponsors a corporate suite, is seen as a good opportunity to explain the changes to partners and stakeholders, one of the people said. Under some of the iterations being discussed, Temasek's investments with external managers such as Avanda Investment Management would be reorganised and potentially placed under Seviora Group – a wholly-owned asset manager that Temasek established in 2020. Seviora currently acts as the holding company for investment units including Fullerton Fund Management, Azalea Investment Management and SeaTown Holdings International. Starting next month, Seviora will be led by Gabriel Lim, a longtime public servant and a former permanent secretary of Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry. Lim joined Temasek in October as its joint head of corporate strategy. Temasek, led by chief executive officer Dilhan Pillay, already divides its net portfolio value in a similar manner. Singapore-based Temasek Portfolio Companies, which include most of the local firms, made up 41 per cent of the portfolio as of March. Global Direct Investments accounted for 36 per cent and 'Partnerships, Funds, and Asset Management Companies' stood at 23 per cent, according to comments made during the firm's 2025 review. The move would also elevate several key executives to senior roles overseeing each new unit, the people said. Aside from Seviora's Lim, other executives mooted to run the new divisions include chief financial officer Png Chin Yee, and Nagi Hamiyeh, the head of Europe, Middle East and Africa, who has moved to the Paris office. BLOOMBERG
Business Times
2 hours ago
- Business Times
Singapore's Temasek weighs a major overhaul to improve returns
[SINGAPORE] Temasek Holdings is mulling one of its biggest overhauls in years, potentially reorganising the firm into three investment vehicles in a bid to boost returns and efficiencies, according to people familiar with the matter. Under the proposal still being discussed at senior levels, Singapore's state-owned investor could divide its business into three arms. One would focus on Temasek's biggest domestic holdings such as Singapore Airlines, and another would oversee largely foreign investments. A third unit would include all of Temasek's fund investments, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing a private matter. The move, which remains fluid and subject to change, would fundamentally restructure the 51-year-old investment giant amid rising pressure to deliver higher returns and streamline its operations. While Temasek's net portfolio value hit a record high of S$434 billion as of March 31, its 10-year total shareholder return of 5 per cent – a compounded and annualised measure that includes dividends – just matched that of its larger but more conservative Singaporean peer GIC. It underperformed the MSCI World Index, which returned an annualised 10 per cent in the decade through March 2025. Temasek is currently run in a conventional manner, with different executives responsible for investing across various assets and geographies, such as real estate or China. If the reorganisation proceeds, it would enable key executives to better focus their attention on improving the firm's performance and efficiency, the people said. Temasek didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up A shift could be announced in coming months, though the plan could be deployed sooner, the people said. Temasek's new chairman, Teo Chee Hean, is set to start on Oct 9, after joining as deputy chairman in July. Singapore's Formula One Grand Prix in early October, where Temasek typically sponsors a corporate suite, is seen as a good opportunity to explain the changes to partners and stakeholders, one of the people said. Under some of the iterations being discussed, Temasek's investments with external managers such as Avanda Investment Management would be reorganised and potentially placed under Seviora Group – a wholly-owned asset manager that Temasek established in 2020. Seviora currently acts as the holding company for investment units including Fullerton Fund Management, Azalea Investment Management and SeaTown Holdings International. Starting next month, Seviora will be led by Gabriel Lim, a longtime public servant and a former permanent secretary of Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry. Lim joined Temasek in October as its joint head of corporate strategy. Temasek, led by chief executive officer Dilhan Pillay, already divides its net portfolio value in a similar manner. Singapore-based Temasek Portfolio Companies, which include most of the local firms, made up 41 per cent of the portfolio as of March. Global Direct Investments accounted for 36 per cent and 'Partnerships, Funds, and Asset Management Companies' stood at 23 per cent, according to comments made during the firm's 2025 review. The move would also elevate several key executives to senior roles overseeing each new unit, the people said. Aside from Seviora's Lim, other executives mooted to run the new divisions include chief financial officer Png Chin Yee, and Nagi Hamiyeh, the head of Europe, Middle East and Africa, who has moved to the Paris office. BLOOMBERG
