Australia Plans Federal Court Action Against Meta, TikTok, Snap and YouTube Over Age Ban

Australia expects to initiate legal proceedings against Meta, TikTok, Snap and Google’s YouTube regarding the enforcement of its social media ban for users under sixteen, according to Bloomberg. Communications Minister Anika Wells confirmed that the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, is actively utilizing newly granted powers to compile evidence necessary for filing a case in the Federal Court, though no formal lawsuit has been submitted yet.

Wells identified Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube as the specific services facing potential litigation during an interview in Sydney with Bloomberg reporter Angus Whitley. She stated that the commissioner is currently employing these expanded authorities to prepare the legal argument against the five tech giants. The minister emphasized that the commissioner now possesses the specific tools required to gather sufficient proof to bring these companies before the federal judiciary.

Regulatory Context and Enforcement

The social media ban for minors has been legally in effect since December 2025. Regulatory investigations into whether platforms are complying with the age restrictions commenced in March of this year. Data released in August indicated a one percentage point decline in teenage usage of TikTok in Australia. The platforms involved maintain that they are adhering to the new regulations. Meta stated in August that it had blocked access to more than 750,000 Facebook and Instagram accounts in Australia that it determined belonged to users under sixteen.

Meta utilizes artificial intelligence to scan posts, bios and captions for indicators such as birthday parties or school grades to identify minors. The company also advocated for age verification to occur at the operating system or app store level, arguing that a single reliable age signal would be more consistent than current platform-specific methods. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously stated that Apple’s chief executive supported the ban.

International Coalition and Legislative Framework

Communications Minister Anika Wells is working to establish a coalition of nations to pressure major technology companies on child safety issues. She told Bloomberg that she has held discussions with counterparts in Malaysia, the Philippines, New Zealand, Canada, Sweden and the United Kingdom, with additional talks scheduled for the coming weeks. Wells noted that these technology firms are among the most powerful and resourced entities globally, requiring coordinated international legislative effort to address.

The legislative template for these efforts is the Digital Duty of Care bill, which the government proposed last week. This bill would mandate that digital services, including social media and AI chatbots, protect users under eighteen from abuse, bullying and pornography. Providers would be required to conduct annual risk assessments. The legislation would also allow users to disable algorithmic feeds and imposes fines of up to A$109.2 million for breaches. Wells aims to have the bill passed by year-end, with the law taking effect twelve months later.

What should you do?

Security and compliance professionals should monitor regulatory developments in Australia regarding the Digital Duty of Care bill. Organizations operating social media platforms should review their age verification mechanisms and compliance strategies. Users should stay informed about changes to platform terms of service related to age restrictions.

What to do and how to stay safe: Meta

• Review organizational compliance with Australian age-verification regulations if operating social media services in the region.
• Monitor official announcements from the eSafety Commissioner regarding ongoing investigations into platform compliance.
• Assess internal policies for detecting and managing accounts of users under sixteen to align with potential legal requirements.
• Stay updated on the progress of the Digital Duty of Care bill and its potential impact on digital service providers.

Step-by-step guide: Mobile Device Security: How to Protect Data Beyond Passwords

General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.

Frequently asked questions

Which companies are facing legal action in Australia?

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube are the five services identified by Communications Minister Anika Wells as facing potential legal action.

What powers is the eSafety Commissioner using?

The eSafety Commissioner is using new powers granted to gather evidence and build a case for the Federal Court regarding the under-16 social media ban.

When did the social media ban take effect?

The ban on social media for users under sixteen has been in force since December 2025.