Australia Threatens $34M-Per-Breach Fines Over Meta’s Under-16 Ban Gaps
Australia’s eSafety regulator found that Facebook and Instagram allowed repeated age-assurance tests and verification gaps that let under-16 users bypass the ban, while removing around 4.7 million suspected underage accounts. The government warns Meta could face civil fines up to $34 million per breach if noncompliance is confirmed.
1. eSafety Report Findings
Australia’s independent regulator eSafety removed around 4.7 million suspected underage accounts but flagged major verification lapses, including repeated age-assurance prompts until children bypassed restrictions and failure to ask age in two-thirds of cases.
2. Government Legal Warning
Communications Minister Anika Wells warned that failure to comply could lead the eSafety commissioner to seek civil fines up to $34 million per breach under Australian law.
3. Meta’s Compliance Position
Meta has affirmed its commitment to enforce the under-16 ban, though it now faces heightened scrutiny over systemic gaps in Facebook and Instagram age verification processes.
4. Implications for Meta
Potential fines and legal action could raise Meta’s regulatory costs and prompt accelerated investment in age-verification technologies and stricter oversight in Australia.