Tech billionaire Elon Musk has taken aim at Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, accusing his government of overreach with its proposed social media ban for children under 16.
The owner of X labelled the legislation as a veiled attempt to assert control over Australians’ internet access.
In a scathing response to Albanese’s announcement on X, Musk said: “Seems like a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians”.
Seems like a backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians https://t.co/694yCzWOaB
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 21, 2024
The Albanese government’s proposed changes include sweeping reforms to shield children under 16 from the perceived harms of social media, citing growing concerns about the mental health effects on young Australians.
Under the new laws, platforms such as X, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Reddit would be required to block under-16s from creating accounts, while educational platforms like YouTube would be exempt.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasised that enforcement would fall on social media companies, not families, urging platforms to take “reasonable steps” to comply. “Social media is doing harm to our kids, and I’m calling time on it,” Albanese declared, framing the reforms as vital for protecting children.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland signalled potential penalties for non-compliance, with enforcement overseen by the eSafety Commissioner. If passed, the ban would take effect 12 months after legislation is approved.
The proposal has ignited significant public debate, with advocacy group 36 Months’ petition to raise the social media age limit to 16, surpassing 124,000 signatures, making it the largest age-limit petition globally on Change.org.
Recent government research revealed 87 of public support for stricter age limits, driven by parental concerns over harmful content and online predators. Parents reported children spending up to three hours daily on social media, with many linking it to negative impacts on mental health and safety.
While the government positions the reform as a safeguard, critics like Musk argue it represents a dangerous precedent, potentially paving the way for broader internet restrictions.
This isn’t Musk’s first clash with Australian authorities. Earlier this year, he criticised the eSafety Commission’s legal efforts to block global dissemination of a violent video depicting the stabbing of a Sydney bishop, calling it a dangerous precedent for worldwide censorship.
“Our concern is that if ANY country is allowed to censor content for ALL countries, which is what the Australian ‘eSafety Commissar’ is demanding, then what is to stop any country from controlling the entire internet?” he posted on X.
At the time, Prime Minister Albanese framed Musk as an “out of touch … egoist” who prioritises personal ideology over public interest.
Musk replied, in turn, with the implication that Julie Inman Grant’s actions mirrored authoritarian tactics, calling her a “global Soviet censor.”
Musk’s critique of the Albanese government comes as he prepares to take a senior role in President-elect Donald Trump’s new administration. Set to lead the newly created “Department of Government Efficiency,” Musk is tasked with cutting bureaucracy and waste in the US government.
Trump, no stranger to controversies surrounding online platforms, has previously criticised US efforts to ban TikTok, labelling them as overreach.
His own social media platform, Truth Social, is valued at $6 billion and has positioned itself as a bastion of free speech.
As Musk takes on an influential role in Trump’s administration, his vocal opposition to government intervention in the digital space is likely to resonate far beyond Australia.
