Musk pushing own agenda on socal media ban issue, says Aussie PM

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded to Elon Musk's criticism of the nation's newly legislated social media ban for children under 16, suggesting that Musk, as the owner of X (formerly Twitter), was pushing his own agenda, Reuters reported.

The law, passed by the Australian government late last week, aims to restrict social media access for minors, making it one of the strictest regulations globally targeting Big Tech. The debate surrounding the ban has been highly emotional, drawing attention both domestically and internationally.

Musk criticized the measure, posting that it appeared to be a "backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians." This stance raised concerns that the law might strain Australia’s relationship with the United States, where Musk is a prominent figure. 

In response, Albanese indicated that he was open to discussing the issue with Musk, but reaffirmed that the government had a clear agenda to protect children from the harmful effects of social media. “We'll talk to anyone,” Albanese said, acknowledging Musk’s right to promote his views as the owner of X.

The law, which applies to tech giants like Meta (Instagram and Facebook) and TikTok, mandates that platforms prevent minors from logging in or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million). Enforcement will begin with a trial in January, with full implementation set for a year later. 

Despite the international controversy, Albanese emphasised the overwhelming support the bill received in Parliament, and expressed confidence that the legislation would proceed as planned.

The law was fast-tracked through Parliament in a dramatic final day of the session, garnering crucial backing from opposition conservatives. X did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.