Musk vs. Australia: entrepreneur criticizes local law banning social media for children

2 December 09:15

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that Elon Musk’s criticism of the ban on the use of social media by children under 16 is an attempt to promote his own interests as the owner of the X platform. He noted that he was ready to discuss this issue with the billionaire. The ban law, passed this week in Australia, has caused a wide response in the country, reports Komersant ukrainskyi reports citing Reuters.

The bill, which was approved on November 28 after an emotional debate, is one of the world’s toughest regulatory measures against large tech companies. The Australian government considers it to be innovative and a model for other countries.

The new law obliges tech giants such as Meta (owner of Instagram and Facebook) and TikTok to prevent the registration of minors. In case of violation, companies can be fined up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (32 million US dollars). Testing of control methods will begin in January, and the restrictions themselves will take effect in a year.

Musk, who is a key figure in the administration of US President-elect Donald Trump, said that this initiative looks like

“…a covert way to control Internet access for all Australians.”

In response, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that Musk was simply promoting his own business interests:

“As for Elon Musk, he has his own interests and, as the owner of X, he has every right to promote them.”

Answering journalists’ questions about whether he was ready to negotiate with Musk, the Prime Minister said he was ready for a dialogue, but also determined:

“We are ready to talk to everyone… We are determined to see this through. Parliament overwhelmingly supported this law.”

Company X has not yet commented on the situation.

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Elon Musk is a visionary entrepreneur

Elon Musk is one of the most influential entrepreneurs of our time, the founder and CEO of many innovative companies such as Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, and Boring Company. He was born on June 28, 1971 in Pretoria, South Africa. After moving to the United States, he became a pioneer in the field of electric vehicles, space technology, and artificial intelligence. Musk is often in the spotlight for his ambitious goals, including the colonization of Mars, the development of renewable energy, and the creation of neurocomputer interfaces.

Musk is also known for his active stance on social media, where he often posts controversial statements. In 2022, he acquired the Twitter platform, which he later renamed X. Musk takes a libertarian stance on Internet regulation and freedom of speech, opposing government interference in the activities of tech giants.

Musk plays a prominent role in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war. His company SpaceX provides the Ukrainian Armed Forces with access to the Starlink satellite Internet, which has provided critical communications at the front. However, some of his public statements have caused outrage among Ukrainians and the international community. For example, Musk has proposed “peace initiatives” that included territorial concessions to Ukraine, which was perceived as support for the Kremlin’s narrative. Recently, Elon Musk was accused of secret contacts with Putin, and he ridiculed Zelenskyy’s statement about Ukraine’s independence.

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Остафійчук Ярослав
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