*

ESafety Commissioner urges government to overturn proposed

YouTube exemption from law

*

Commission says its research shows children see more

harmful

content on YouTube than any other social media

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YouTube accuses regulator of providing 'inconsistent'

advice

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Platform says research shows parents and teachers support

its

waiver

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World-first teen social media ban due to come into force

on

December 10

By Byron Kaye

SYDNEY, June 24 (Reuters) - Australia's internet

watchdog and YouTube exchanged barbs on Tuesday after the

regulator urged the government to reverse a planned exemption

for the Alphabet-owned video-sharing platform from its

world-first teen social media ban.

The quarrel adds an element of uncertainty to the December

rollout of a law being watched by governments and tech leaders

around the world as Australia seeks to become the first country

to fine social media firms if they fail to block users aged

under 16.

The centre-left Labor government of Anthony Albanese has

previously said it would give YouTube a waiver, citing the

platform's use for education and health. Other social media

companies such as Meta's Facebook and Instagram,

Snapchat, and TikTok have argued such an exemption

would be unfair.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said she wrote to the

government last week to say there should be no exemptions when

the law takes effect. She added that the regulator's research

found 37% of children aged 10 to 15 reported seeing harmful

content on YouTube - the most of any social media site.

"This is not a fair fight where our kids are concerned,

vis-a-vis social media sites," Inman Grant told the National

Press Club in Sydney.

She said social media companies deployed "persuasive design

features" like recommendation-based algorithms and notifications

to keep users online and "YouTube has mastered those, opaque

algorithms driving users down rabbit holes they're powerless to

fight against".

YouTube, in a blog post, accused Inman Grant of giving

inconsistent and contradictory advice, which discounted the

government's own research which found 69% of parents considered

the video platform suitable for people under 15.

"The eSafety commissioner chose to ignore this data, the

decision of the Australian Government and other clear evidence

from teachers and parents that YouTube is suitable for younger

users," wrote Rachel Lord, YouTube's public policy manager for

Australia and New Zealand.

Inman Grant, asked about surveys supporting a YouTube

exemption, said she was more concerned "about the safety of

children and that's always going to surpass any concerns I have

about politics or being liked or bringing the public onside".

A spokesperson for Communications Minister Anika Wells said

the minister was considering the online regulator's advice and

her "top priority is making sure the draft rules fulfil the

objective of the Act and protect children from the harms of

social media".