Australia PM Albanese says Musk pushing agenda for X in social media ban criticism
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Australia approved the social media ban for children late on Nov 28 after an emotive debate that has gripped the nation.
PHOTO: AFP
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SYDNEY - Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Dec 1 that criticism by Mr Elon Musk of Australia's social media ban on children under 16 was the X owner pushing an agenda for the social platform, while indicating he was open to talk to the billionaire about the ban, legislated this week.
Australia approved the social media ban
The ban, which the centre-left government says is world-leading, could strain Australia’s relationship with key ally the US, where Mr Musk, a central figure in the administration of president-elect Donald Trump, said in a post in November it seemed a “backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians”.
Mr Albanese, asked on Dec 1 if he was prepared to talk to Mr Musk about the social media ban, said: “We’ll talk to anyone.”
“With regard to Elon Musk, he has an agenda, he’s entitled to push that as the owner of X, formerly known as Twitter,” Mr Albanese added in remarks on Australian Broadcasting Corp television.
The law forces tech giants from Instagram and Facebook owner Meta, to TikTok to stop minors logging in or face fines of up to A$49.5 million (S$43 million). A trial of enforcement methods starts in January 2025, with the ban to take effect in a year.
“We are determined to get this done, the Parliament has overwhelmingly passed this legislation,” Mr Albanese told the broadcaster.
X did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment outside of business hours.
Mr Albanese’s Labour party won crucial support from the opposition conservatives for the Bill that was fast-tracked through the country’s Parliament as part of 31 Bills pushed through in a chaotic final day of Parliament for 2024. REUTERS
