Australia's Strict Surveillance Law

Australia has enacted one of the strictest surveillance laws globally, known as TOLA, which mandates technology companies to create back doors for law enforcement access. This law allows the government to impose a social media ban for children under 16, aiming to combat the perceived harms of social media on youth mental health. Critics argue that the ban may not effectively deter children from using social platforms or foster their return to traditional outdoor activities. The law raises concerns about its implementation and the potential for infringing on privacy rights, as it centralizes authority with the communications minister to determine which platforms the ban applies to.