Australia to pursue legal action against Meta, TikTok over age restrictions

Australia is set to take legal action against Meta Platforms and TikTok for breaching the country's social media age restriction legislation, according to government officials. The move comes as authorities seek to enforce compliance with rules requiring the platforms to implement measures preventing underage users from accessing their services.

Under Australian law, social media companies are obligated to take reasonable steps to prevent children from holding accounts on their platforms. The government's decision to pursue litigation suggests both Meta and TikTok have failed to meet these obligations to a degree warranting formal legal action.

This development reflects growing regulatory pressure on major social media platforms across the Asia-Pacific region regarding child safety and age verification protocols. Australia has emerged as one of the more assertive regulators in implementing strict rules governing how tech companies operate, particularly concerning youth access to digital services.

The legal proceedings represent the latest chapter in an ongoing regulatory battle between Canberra and tech giants over content moderation, algorithmic transparency, and user protection standards. Both platforms will likely face significant compliance challenges and potential financial penalties if found in violation of the legislation.