Mark Sellman, a technology correspondent at The Times, and Helen Rumbelow, a features writer focusing on social media's impact on children, delve into Australia's groundbreaking ban on under-16s accessing social media. They discuss the potential of AI-driven age verification technology like Yoti, examining its accuracy and possible failures. The conversation raises critical questions about the effectiveness of such bans, ethical concerns, and whether similar legislation could be implemented in the UK, while capturing teens' candid reactions to the proposed restrictions.
Australia's landmark law banning under 16s from social media reflects increasing parental concerns about children's online safety and well-being.
The implementation of AI age verification technology raises significant questions regarding privacy and the ethical implications of its usage in compliance with such laws.
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Australia’s Social Media Ban for Minors
Australia recently implemented a groundbreaking law that prohibits social media usage for individuals under 16, positioning itself as a leader in child safety online. The legislation applies to major platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, even requiring parental consent to be ineffective for access. This law reflects growing concerns among parents about the effects of social media on children, pushing the government to prioritize the well-being of young users. However, practical challenges remain regarding how effectively authorities can enforce such restrictions and how children might circumvent these barriers.
AI Technology in Age Verification
The development and implementation of AI technology for age verification is gaining attention, particularly in relation to managing social media access for minors. A company called Yoti has been pioneering a facial age estimation system that claims high accuracy in determining whether an individual is under or over the age threshold. This technology uses millions of images to train its AI, ensuring it is accurate for younger individuals, which is crucial for compliance with age-related legislation. However, concerns about privacy and the potential for misuse of images in this process continue to fuel debates about the ethical implications of such advancements.
Last week, Australia became the first country to block under 16s from social media. Age verification AI could be a crucial tool in the ban, so we spoke to our journalist who has been to the industry-leader’s HQ to find out if the technology actually works. And we ask, could the UK follow suit?
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Guests:
Mark Sellman, Technology Correspondent, The Times.