Click Here Mic Drop: Australia’s attempt to keep kids off social media
Jan 24, 2025
John Pane, a privacy advocate at Electronic Frontiers Australia, discusses Australia's controversial social media age-gating aimed at keeping kids under 16 offline. He argues this plan poses risks not only to youth privacy but also to broader human rights. Pane highlights the ineffectiveness of age verification methods and warns about the potential increase in surveillance. He emphasizes the importance of balancing child safety with privacy rights, raising alarms about how such regulations could impact marginalized communities.
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From Bouncer to Privacy Expert
- Dina Temple-Raston interviews a privacy expert with an unusual background.
- He was a bouncer at the Limelight nightclub in New York around 1990.
Australia's Strict Surveillance Laws
- Australia's TOLA law is considered one of the world's strictest surveillance laws.
- In late 2024, Australia introduced a social media ban for children under 16.
Government's Hope vs. Reality
- The Australian government believes the social media ban will encourage kids to return to physical activities.
- Privacy advocate John Payne doubts this outcome.