Latest news with #AngelaFalkenberg
New Straits Times
31-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Australia to outlaw YouTube accounts for teenagers
Your browser does not support the audio element. SYDNEY: Australia said yesterday it will add YouTube to sites covered by its world-first ban on social media for teenagers, reversing an earlier decision to exempt the Alphabet-owned video-sharing site and potentially setting up a legal challenge. The decision came after the Internet regulator urged the government last month to overturn the YouTube carve-out, citing a survey that found 37 per cent of minors reported harmful content on the site, the worst showing for a social media platform. "I'm calling time on it," said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in a statement highlighting that Australian children were being negatively affected by online platforms, and reminding social media of their social responsibility. "I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs." The decision broadens the ban set to take effect in December. YouTube says it is used by nearly three-quarters of Australians aged 13 to 15, and should not be classified as social media because its main activity is hosting videos. "Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content, increasingly viewed on TV screens. It's not social media," said a YouTube spokesman by email. The ban outlaws YouTube accounts for those younger than 16 but allows parents and teachers to show videos on it to minors. "Teachers are always curators of any resource for appropriateness (and) will be judicious," said Angela Falkenberg, president of the Australian Primary Principals Association, which supports the ban. Artificial intelligence had supercharged the spread of misinformation on social media platforms such as YouTube, said Adam Marre, chief information security officer at cyber security firm Arctic Wolf. "The Australian government's move to regulate YouTube is an important step in pushing back against the unchecked power of big tech and protecting kids," he added in an email. The law passed in November only requires "reasonable steps" by social media platforms to keep out Australians younger than 16, or face a fine of up to A$49.5 million. The government, which is due to receive a report on tests of age-checking products, has said those results will influence enforcement of the ban. Reuters
Hans India
30-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Australia to Ban YouTube for Under-16s by December 2025, Tech Giants Face $50M Penalty for Non-Compliance
Australia is taking a firmer stand on digital safety for children, expanding its age restrictions on social media to now include YouTube. The move, announced this week, will prohibit children under the age of 16 from creating accounts on the video-sharing platform starting in December 2025. Platforms found in violation of the new law could face penalties of up to AUD 49.5 million (approximately $50 million USD). This decision comes as part of a broader crackdown aimed at minimizing children's exposure to harmful online content. YouTube joins the likes of TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook—platforms already restricted under the same law passed in November 2024. Previously, YouTube had been given a temporary exemption. The reversal was driven by mounting concerns raised by Australia's eSafety Commissioner, who argued that YouTube's algorithmic recommendations and interactive features present dangers comparable to other social platforms. A government report set to be released later this month is expected to outline enforcement mechanisms, especially regarding age-verification technology. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, voicing his support for the expanded ban, said, 'I'm calling time on it.' He emphasized that tech companies must take more responsibility for the well-being of young users and not prioritize profit over protection. 'I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs,' he stated. A recent survey added urgency to the government's decision, revealing that 37% of users under 18 had encountered harmful or disturbing content on YouTube—the highest of any platform. Moreover, 68% of children aged 10 to 12 were found to be actively engaging with YouTube content, despite existing parental control options. Although children under 16 will be restricted from creating their own accounts, parents and educators will still be allowed to show videos in classrooms and homes. Angela Falkenberg, president of the Australian Primary Principals Association, supported the government's action and assured the public that teachers are capable of managing content in educational settings. 'Teachers are always curators of any resource for appropriateness (and) will be judicious,' she said. Not surprisingly, YouTube has expressed opposition to the decision. In a statement, the company argued, 'Our position remains clear, YouTube is a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content, increasingly viewed on TV screens. It's not social media.' The platform insists that its core function differs from social networks and that nearly 75% of Australian teens aged 13–15 rely on it. However, critics remain unconvinced. Many point to YouTube's recommendation algorithm and user engagement features, which they claim mirror social media behaviour. Cybersecurity professionals have noted that advances in AI have exacerbated these issues. 'The Australian government's move to regulate YouTube is an important step in pushing back against the unchecked power of big tech and protecting kids,' said Adam Marre, Chief Information Security Officer at Arctic Wolf. While YouTube has been lobbying behind the scenes and may pursue a legal challenge, the government seems determined to enforce the upcoming age restrictions. As the December deadline approaches, all eyes are now on how tech companies will respond—and whether more countries will follow suit.
Extra.ie
30-07-2025
- Business
- Extra.ie
Australia outlaws YouTube for teens as media ban widens
Australia has announced that YouTube is going to be added to the sites covered by their unique social media ban for teenagers. The video-sharing site was originally exempt from the ban but that decision has now been reversed with the possibility of a legal challenge now on the way. Due to a survey which found that 37% of minors reported harmful content on the site, the worst showing for a social media platform, Australia decided to comply with their internet regulator's urges. Australian PM Anthony Albanese confirmed the ban extension. Pic:Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated: 'I'm calling time on it.' He went on to highlight that Australian children were being negatively affected by online platforms and reminded social media platforms of the responsibility that they have to keep users safe.. The PM added: 'I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs.' The ban will broaden to include YouTube from December onwards. YouTube has hit back at the decision, stating that it is used by nearly three-quarters of Australians aged 13 to 15 and should not be classified as social media because its main activity is hosting videos. A YouTube spokesperson wrote: 'Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content, increasingly viewed on TV screens. It's not social media.' Platforms that were already covered by the ban, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, were unhappy with YouTube's exemption last year and complained that it has key similarities to their products, including letting users interact and recommending content through an algorithm based on activity. Originally, the government had exempted YouTube due to its popularity with teachers but now all accounts for under-16s will be outlawed, with parents and teachers allowed to show videos on it to minors. YouTube have hit back at the decision. Pic:Angela Falkenberg, President of the Australian Primary Principals Association, stated: 'Teachers are always curators of any resource for appropriateness (and) will be judicious.' Adam Marre, Chief Information Security Officer at cybersecurity firm Arctic Wolf, added that social media platforms like YouTube have been flooded with misinformation due to the rise in Artificial Intelligence. He said: 'The Australian government's move to regulate YouTube is an important step in pushing back against the unchecked power of big tech and protecting kids.' The decision now brings a potential legal challenge from Alphabet, the company that owns YouTube, after they already threatened to withdraw some Google services from Australia in 2021 to avoid a law forcing it to pay news outlets for content appearing in searches. Last week, YouTube told Reuters that it had written to the government urging it 'to uphold the integrity of the legislative process'. Australian media then said YouTube threatened a court challenge, but YouTube did not confirm that. Communications Minister Anika Wells told Australian parliament: 'I will not be intimidated by legal threats when this is a genuine fight for the well-being of Australian kids.' The Australian government is due to receive a report in the near future on tests of age-checking products, with the results set to influence the enforcement of the ban introduced last November. Currently, social media platforms that fail to take the 'reasonable steps' to keep out Australians younger than 16 will face a fine of up to A$49.5million (€27.9million).
Dubai Eye
30-07-2025
- Business
- Dubai Eye
Australia widens teen social media ban to YouTube, scraps exemption
Australia said on Wednesday it will add YouTube to sites covered by its world-first ban on social media for teenagers, reversing an earlier decision to exempt the Alphabet-owned video-sharing site and potentially setting up a legal challenge. The decision came after the internet regulator urged the government last month to overturn the YouTube carve-out, citing a survey that found 37 per cent of minors reported harmful content on the site, the worst showing for a social media platform. "I'm calling time on it," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement highlighting that Australian children were being negatively affected by online platforms, and reminding social media of their social responsibility. "I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs." The decision broadens the ban set to take effect in December. YouTube says it is used by nearly three-quarters of Australians aged 13 to 15, and should not be classified as social media because its main activity is hosting videos. "Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content, increasingly viewed on TV screens. It's not social media," a YouTube spokesperson said by email. Since the government said last year it would exempt YouTube due to its popularity with teachers, platforms covered by the ban, such as Meta's Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, have complained. They say YouTube has key similarities to their products, including letting users interact and recommending content through an algorithm based on activity. The ban outlaws YouTube accounts for those younger than 16, allowing parents and teachers to show videos on it to minors. "Teachers are always curators of any resource for appropriateness (and) will be judicious," said Angela Falkenberg, president of the Australian Primary Principals Association, which supports the ban. Artificial intelligence has supercharged the spread of misinformation on social media platforms such as YouTube, said Adam Marre, chief information security officer at cyber security firm Arctic Wolf. "The Australian government's move to regulate YouTube is an important step in pushing back against the unchecked power of big tech and protecting kids," he added in an email. The reversal sets up a fresh dispute with Alphabet, which threatened to withdraw some Google services from Australia in 2021 to avoid a law forcing it to pay news outlets for content appearing in searches. Last week, YouTube told Reuters it had written to the government urging it "to uphold the integrity of the legislative process". Australian media said YouTube threatened a court challenge, but YouTube did not confirm that. "I will not be intimidated by legal threats when this is a genuine fight for the well-being of Australian kids," Communications Minister Anika Wells told parliament on Wednesday. The law passed in November only requires "reasonable steps" by social media platforms to keep out Australians younger than 16, or face a fine of up to A$49.5 million. The government, which is due to receive a report this month on tests of age-checking products, has said those results will influence enforcement of the ban.
Nikkei Asia
30-07-2025
- Business
- Nikkei Asia
Australia widens teen social media ban to YouTube
SYDNEY (Reuters) -- Australia said on Wednesday it will add YouTube to sites covered by its world-first ban on social media for teenagers, reversing an earlier decision to exempt the Alphabet-owned video-sharing site and potentially setting up a legal challenge. The decision came after the internet regulator urged the government last month to overturn the YouTube carve-out, citing a survey that found 37% of minors reported harmful content on the site, the worst showing for a social media platform. "I'm calling time on it," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement highlighting that Australian children were being negatively affected by online platforms, and reminding social media of their social responsibility. "I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs." The decision broadens the ban set to take effect in December. YouTube says it is used by nearly three-quarters of Australians aged 13 to 15, and should not be classified as social media because its main activity is hosting videos. "Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content, increasingly viewed on TV screens. It's not social media," a YouTube spokesperson said by email. Since the government said last year it would exempt YouTube due to its popularity with teachers, platforms covered by the ban, such as Meta's Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, have complained. They say YouTube has key similarities to their products, including letting users interact and recommending content through an algorithm based on activity. The ban outlaws YouTube accounts for those younger than 16, allowing parents and teachers to show videos on it to minors. "Teachers are always curators of any resource for appropriateness (and) will be judicious," said Angela Falkenberg, president of the Australian Primary Principals Association, which supports the ban. Artificial intelligence has supercharged the spread of misinformation on social media platforms such as YouTube, said Adam Marre, chief information security officer at cyber security firm Arctic Wolf. "The Australian government's move to regulate YouTube is an important step in pushing back against the unchecked power of big tech and protecting kids," he added in an email. The reversal sets up a fresh dispute with Alphabet, which threatened to withdraw some Google services from Australia in 2021 to avoid a law forcing it to pay news outlets for content appearing in searches. Last week, YouTube told Reuters it had written to the government urging it "to uphold the integrity of the legislative process". Australian media said YouTube threatened a court challenge, but YouTube did not confirm that. "I will not be intimidated by legal threats when this is a genuine fight for the well-being of Australian kids," Communications Minister Anika Wells told parliament on Wednesday. The law passed in November only requires "reasonable steps" by social media platforms to keep out Australians younger than 16, or face a fine of up to A$49.5 million. The government, which is due to receive a report this month on tests of age-checking products, has said those results will influence enforcement of the ban.
