Google has threatened legal action against the Australian government if YouTube is included in a proposed social media ban targeting users under the age of 16. This warning was communicated in a letter to Communications Minister Anika Wells and reported by both The Daily Telegraph and 9News. The government plans to implement the ban in December this year.
Originally, the Australian government had announced that YouTube would be exempt from these restrictions. However, Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, argued that the platform should be included in the ban. She reasoned that some of YouTube’s features are inconsistent with the government’s aim to safeguard children from potential online harms, despite acknowledging its beneficial educational content.
Wells has yet to respond to the eSafety Commissioner’s position. Should YouTube be affected by the ban, individuals under 16 would still have the ability to access the site but would not be permitted to create accounts.
Google contends that such a ban could infringe upon political freedoms, asserting that it would hinder young individuals from engaging in political discourse through posting videos and comments. Notably, Australia’s legal voting age is set at 18.
In addition, Google maintains that YouTube is primarily a video streaming service rather than a social media platform. A final decision regarding the list of platforms to be included in the ban will be announced in the upcoming weeks.