www.theguardian.com
Under-16s social media ban to include penalties for social media companies up to $50m
Josh Butler
The controversial ban on social media for under-16s will be introduced into parliament today, and will be accompanied by a proposal to massively increase fines on social media companies which breach the legislation – up to $50m.
The communications minister Michelle Rowland’s office sprinkled out some sparing details of the legislation overnight. Rowland said in some provided remarks:
This reform is about protecting young people and letting parents know we’ve got their backs. The legislation places the onus on social media platforms, not parents or children, to ensure protections are in place.
The government might try to push this through before parliament rises at the end of next week, with the support of the opposition leader Peter Dutton who wants it passed before Christmas. But Nationals senator Matt Canavan said yesterday the bill should get a proper Senate committee process and not be rushed through.
We understand the legislation will require regulated companies to take “reasonable steps” to prevent young people from having a social media account. What’s a regulated entity, you might ask? Well the minister will also get the power to exclude specific classes of services from those rules too, which could include messaging services, online games and services for health or education.
Tech companies will also be subject to privacy provisions, including obligations to protect and destroy any data they collect.
The government had flagged plans to boost penalties available under existing legislation, saying the current rules didn’t do enough to force big tech to take notice. We understand the new legislation will increase penalties up to $50m for systematic breaches of the rules.
Not mentioned overnight, but what we’ll be eagerly anticipating details on, is how the government thinks tech companies can enforce those rules, and how they will apply to all Australians. Communications department officials have already told Senate estimates that essentially all Australians will have to undergo some kind of age assurance or verification, in order to make sure those under 16 aren’t on those platforms – but the government hasn’t been forthcoming on that issue yet.
We’re also interested to know what data will have to be provided to tech companies, and how they’ll keep it safe.
Key events
Good morning
Emily Wind
And happy Thursday – thanks to Martin for kicking things off. I’m Emily Wind, and I’ll be taking you through our live political coverage for most of today.
You’ll have the whole Canberra team bringing you updates – Karen Middleton, Josh Butler, Paul Karp and Sarah Basford Canales, as well as Mike Bowers capturing all the action.
You can get in touch with any tips via email, emily.wind@theguardian.com.
Let’s get started.
Woolworths workers on stike
Jonathan Barrett
More than 1,500 employees across four Woolworths distribution centres have started an indefinite strike as worker representatives seek a “cost-of-living wage increase” and improved conditions.
The industrial action, which starts today, affects three warehouses in Victoria and one in New South Wales, and threatens to disrupt logistics ahead of the busy Christmas shopping period.
The workers are seeking equal pay across distribution centres, bringing entry-level rates to at least $38 an hour. They also want to dismantle an efficiency system that warehouse staff have described as ‘bullying’ and unsafe.
The national secretary of the United Workers Union, Tim Kennedy, said:
Woolworths are squeezing shoppers at the register and workers on pay and conditions, while making ever increasing profits. This is contributing to growing wealth inequality in Australia.
No one wants to see bare supermarket shelves in the lead up to Christmas. Woolworths can fix this by coming back to the table and negotiating a fair agreement.
A spokesperson for Woolworths’ supply chain Primary Connect said in a statement the company did not expect an immediate impact to stores in Victoria and NSW, while stores in other states would not be impacted.
We have already put forward several offers with competitive pay that is above industry standards, above local market rates, and well above the award.
Under-16s social media ban to include penalties for social media companies up to $50m
Josh Butler
The controversial ban on social media for under-16s will be introduced into parliament today, and will be accompanied by a proposal to massively increase fines on social media companies which breach the legislation – up to $50m.
The communications minister Michelle Rowland’s office sprinkled out some sparing details of the legislation overnight. Rowland said in some provided remarks:
This reform is about protecting young people and letting parents know we’ve got their backs. The legislation places the onus on social media platforms, not parents or children, to ensure protections are in place.
The government might try to push this through before parliament rises at the end of next week, with the support of the opposition leader Peter Dutton who wants it passed before Christmas. But Nationals senator Matt Canavan said yesterday the bill should get a proper Senate committee process and not be rushed through.
We understand the legislation will require regulated companies to take “reasonable steps” to prevent young people from having a social media account. What’s a regulated entity, you might ask? Well the minister will also get the power to exclude specific classes of services from those rules too, which could include messaging services, online games and services for health or education.
Tech companies will also be subject to privacy provisions, including obligations to protect and destroy any data they collect.
The government had flagged plans to boost penalties available under existing legislation, saying the current rules didn’t do enough to force big tech to take notice. We understand the new legislation will increase penalties up to $50m for systematic breaches of the rules.
Not mentioned overnight, but what we’ll be eagerly anticipating details on, is how the government thinks tech companies can enforce those rules, and how they will apply to all Australians. Communications department officials have already told Senate estimates that essentially all Australians will have to undergo some kind of age assurance or verification, in order to make sure those under 16 aren’t on those platforms – but the government hasn’t been forthcoming on that issue yet.
We’re also interested to know what data will have to be provided to tech companies, and how they’ll keep it safe.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live politics blog. This is Martin Farrer, bringing you the top overnight stories and then it will be Emily Wind in the hot seat.
The office of the communications minister, Michelle Rowland, has released some details overnight of the social media ban legislation that she will introduce to parliament today. The controversial ban will be backed by fines for social media companies which breach the legislation – up to $50m. “This reform is about protecting young people and letting parents know we’ve got their backs,” Rowland said. More coming up.
After it emerged yesterday that “Colesworth” was the ANU’s word of the year, describing the cost-of-living crisis, it is the turn today of Coles to front the consumer watchdog’s inquiry into supermarkets. We will be following developments as they happen. It comes as the other half of the portmanteau, Woolworths, will be hit by 1,500 workers going on an “indefinite” strike for more pay. More on that soon.
One of our top stories this morning reveals how hundreds of university executives are raking in more money than state premiers, a new report reveals, pointing to a “governance crisis” threatening the sector. In New South Wales, 89 executives earn more than Chris Minns’s $416,440 salary while in Victoria 62 make more than Jacinta Allan’s $481,190.
