Elon Musk Opposes Australia's Social Media Ban

Elon Musk has criticized Australia's proposed legislation to ban social media for children under 16, calling it a 'backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians.' The Australian government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, introduced the bill, which includes steep fines for non-compliance and a stringent age-verification system. Musk, who owns the social media platform X, sees this as a free speech issue, reflecting his ongoing clashes with Australia's center-left government over social media policies. The legislation is considered one of the toughest globally, as it does not allow parental consent or exemptions for pre-existing accounts, contrasting with more lenient laws in countries like France and the US. Government officials argue the bill is necessary to protect children from online harm, amidst concerns about mental health impacts. The proposed law continues to face debate, with some political support but also significant opposition from tech industry leaders.