According to a report by the Australian public broadcaster ABC, the country's newly introduced social media ban for minors under 16 is having little effect so far. Many young users continue to access platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat without hindrance, as enforcement of the law remains weak and loopholes easily exploited.
Australia's world-first ban on social media for children under 16 takes effect on December 10, 2025, but implementation details remain unclear. The law imposes fines up to $50 million on platforms that fail to keep out underage users, though only 25% of Australians believe it will actually work.
Hacker group Department of Peace released data about ICE contracts from the DHS's Office of Industry Partnership. The group stated they hacked the DHS because "the DHS is killing."
Australia plans to ban social media accounts for anyone under 16 starting in December, requiring platforms like Instagram and TikTok to remove minors. The government says this aims to protect children from online harm, but critics warn the approach could create privacy issues and may not effectively achieve its goals.
Australia has announced the establishment of its AI Safety Institute with a $29.9 million commitment, set to begin operations in early 2026. The country will join the International Network of AI Safety Institutes, following similar initiatives in the UK and US.
AI empowers people to increase government visibility, legibility, and accountability by processing vast amounts of public data that was previously only accessible to professionals. This includes analyzing spending, legislation, lobbying, and local government decisions. While these tools could potentially be misused, increased transparency may improve democratic societies.