Australia Social Media Minimum Age Enforcement Bill
AustraliaHigh threatExpands eSafety’s information-gathering powers and doubles maximum civil penalties under Australia’s social media minimum-age framework.
Latest update
Senate second reading agreed; Committee of the Whole debate
Take action
This bill is still moving, so there's still time to push back.
Contact LawmakersWhat it does
The bill strengthens enforcement of the existing under-16 account restrictions. It extends compulsory information and document notices beyond social media platforms to people holding relevant material, including age-assurance providers. The Commissioner must reasonably believe the material is relevant to the minimum-age framework. It also doubles maximum civil penalties for breaches of the minimum-age obligations and information notices. It passed the House on July 1, 2026; the Senate agreed to second reading on September 9 and began Committee of the Whole consideration. It is not yet law.
What’s at stake
Broader disclosure powers reach companies involved in checking users’ ages, while larger penalties increase the incentive to exclude users or subject them to more intrusive checks. These are privacy and access risks arising from stronger enforcement, not a new express requirement that every user upload government ID.
Our take
We oppose this expansion of the age-gating regime. Giving eSafety stronger compulsory disclosure powers and increasing enforcement pressure compounds the underlying threat to private, anonymous participation online. This is a separate bill from both the original under-16 law and the Digital Duty of Care consultation draft.
Timeline
Senate second reading agreed; Committee of the Whole debateLatest
Senate second reading debate
Senate committee reported on the bill
Passed the House; introduced in the Senate and referred for committee inquiry
Introduced in the House of Representatives; first reading and second reading moved
Sponsor
Anika Wells (Minister for Communications; Australian Government)
Committee
Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee
Suggest a bill or correction
Know a bill we should track, or spot something out of date? Email the bill name, the jurisdiction and a link to an official source.