Instagram massively blocks children in Australia by court order

On May 15, 2024, the Australian Federal Court ordered Meta to identify and block Instagram accounts of users under the age of 14. The lawsuit was initiated by the state regulator, the Electronic Security Commission (eSafety). The event was the world's first case of forced mass blocking of minors on a social network by judicial decision.

Event details: Chronology of the trial

The Australian Electronic Security Commission filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc. in the country's Federal Court at the end of March 2024. The reason was Meta's refusal to comply with the regulator's order requiring the development of an effective age filter to protect children from cyberbullying and malicious content.

On May 15, the court granted eSafety's request and issued an interim order. It obliged Meta to use all available technological and analytical tools to search for and block accounts of minors. According to the document, the company must analyze behavioral patterns, registration data and other user information.

Reactions and comments: The Regulator's position and Meta

The head of the Electronic Security Commission, Julie Inman Grant, called the court's decision a historical precedent. "This is a starting point for the accountability of technology giants," she said. "If companies are unwilling to voluntarily protect children, regulators will use all available legal mechanisms."

The official representative of Meta in Australia expressed disappointment with the court's decision. According to him, the company invests millions of dollars in artificial intelligence to identify the wrong age, but believes that total blocking is an ineffective method. "We believe that the best solution is the development of parental control technologies and educational initiatives, rather than mass bans," the Reuters news agency quoted him as saying.

Context and background: Why it's important

Australia is one of the world leaders in the field of digital space regulation. The law "On Online Security" of 2021 gave eSafety unprecedented powers to issue binding regulations to IT companies. Previously, X (Twitter) and Telegram had already been subject to the law.

The lawsuit against Meta became a logical development of the regulator's policy aimed at protecting children on social networks. According to an eSafety study for 2023, more than 50% of Australian children aged 8 to 13 have social media accounts, despite formal age restrictions (13+). At the same time, one in three of them has encountered cyberbullying.

Consequences and forecasts: What will happen next

The immediate consequence will be the blocking of thousands, and possibly millions, of Instagram accounts in Australia. This will set a precedent for other countries considering tough regulatory measures. Experts predict several key consequences:

• Development of verification technologies: Regulatory pressure will accelerate the introduction of more sophisticated age verification systems, possibly using biometrics or document verification.
• The growing popularity of alternative platforms: Some of the younger audience may migrate to less regulated social networks or messengers.
• Escalation of the conflict: Meta may appeal the decision, which will lead to a lengthy court battle with potential fines reaching millions of Australian dollars.

Industry analysts interviewed by TechPolicy Daily believe that this case will force global platforms to rethink their approaches to age moderation in all regions, not just in heavily regulated countries.