WELLINGTON - New Zealand's government moved ahead with plans to ban children under 16 from using social media, with legislation set to be introduced to parliament on Monday.
The Online Safety Bill would require high-risk social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook, to take reasonable steps to verify that users are over the age of 16, using methods such as existing account information, facial age estimation, digital ID services and formal identification, said a government statement.
The legislation would also require platforms used by children to regularly assess the risks they pose and report on how those risks are being identified and reduced, it said.
Companies that fail to meet their obligations could face penalties of up to 10 percent of a platform's global revenue. The bill would also bring emerging technologies, including AI companion platforms, within the regulatory framework.
An online safety regulator would be established within the Department of Internal Affairs to independently monitor compliance, investigate platforms and enforce the law, the statement said.
