Australia mobilizes tech companies' support to enhance children's online safety

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Sunday that he is seeking the support of major technology companies for his country’s laws on online child safety and the regulation of artificial intelligence, following his meeting with former Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Albanese confirmed after his meeting with Cook at Apple’s headquarters in California on Saturday that, regarding protecting children from online risks, “Australia cannot do this alone.”

He said in a social media post, “We discussed what we are doing to protect children from online harm and the work that lies ahead.”

For his part, Cook said in a post on the X platform that he had reviewed with Albanese “new, powerful, and user-friendly tools to help keep children safe online.”

Last year, Australia implemented legislation banning social media platforms for users under the age of 16, as part of strict measures that are the first of their kind globally, aimed at protecting children from cyberbullying and “predatory algorithms.”

Drafts of the new laws, unveiled this month, include imposing a “duty of care” on companies owning popular platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, as well as giving users the option to turn off algorithms if they wish.

Data released last month showed that social media app usage among those under 16 in Australia, including Instagram and TikTok, had increased despite the ban.

These bills are scheduled to be introduced to parliament later this year, following consultations with social media companies, industry bodies, and civil society groups.

Albanese, who is visiting the United States this week to attend meetings of the United Nations General Assembly, also used his trip to advocate for stricter regulation of artificial intelligence.

He asked, “How do we ensure that humans remain in control, rather than technology controlling us?”