Australia to Sue Meta and TikTok Over Age Ban

The Australian government is preparing legal action against Meta Platforms Inc., TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube for allegedly failing to comply with a nationwide social media ban for users under 16. Communications Minister Anika Wells announced the lawsuits following an investigation by the eSafety Commissioner that began in March.

Under current legislation, digital platforms must take reasonable steps to prevent underage users from maintaining accounts to protect them from harmful online content. The government alleges that these companies have failed to meet these requirements, leading to the current legal proceedings.