YouTube urges Labor to ignore ‘contradictory’ eSafety advice
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The news: YouTube has described new advice provided by the eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant to Communications Minister Annika Wells as a “contradiction” and at odds with both government research and community sentiment.
Rachel Lord, senior manager of public policy and government relations at YouTube Australia, urged Labor to ignore the advice provided by Grant and follow through with an earlier decision to exempt YouTube from its controversial social media age restrictions.
The context: The social media ban, which was passed late last year after a one-day consultation period, allows the communications minister to fine companies up to $50 million if children aged 16 and under are repeatedly able to access their platforms. It will take effect at the end of the year.
In draft rules circulated earlier this year, Labor proposed YouTube be exempt from the ban, along with messaging apps like Signal, online games such as Roblox and Minecraft, and other services that primarily serve the educational and health needs of young people.
YouTube claims that it is a video distribution and hosting platform not a social media platform. The company has previously argued that YouTube should be exempted from the ban because it is frequently used by teachers in a classroom setting.
TikTok, Meta and Snap have each criticised Labor’s decision to award YouTube the exemption. TikTok has argued that “carving out a sweetheart deal” for one platform while subjecting others to “stringent compliance obligations” would undermine the government’s digital competition reform efforts.
Meta, meanwhile, has said YouTube’s exemption “makes a mockery” of the government’s stated intention to protect young people.
What they said: “The Social Media Minimum Age Act was considered and agreed to by the Australian Parliament under the understanding that YouTube would be exempt, and that young Australians would continue to have access to YouTube,” Lord said in a statement.
“eSafety’s advice goes against the government’s own commitment, its own research on community sentiment, independent research and the view of key stakeholders in this debate, including the 36 Months campaign that spurred this legislation," she said.
“Today’s position from the eSafety Commissioner represents inconsistent and contradictory advice, having previously flagged concerns the ban ‘may limit young people’s access to critical support’.”
The source: YouTube statement
