Several major tech companies, including Meta, TikTok, and Google, have expressed strong opposition to a proposed Australian law that would prevent individuals under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms.

The legislation, which is up for debate in parliament this week, aims to prohibit minors from creating accounts on popular sites like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Reddit, even with parental consent.

Social media companies would be responsible for enforcing the age restrictions and could face fines of up to A$50 million for non-compliance. This has sparked a policy debate as the government seeks to protect young users online.