SYDNEY, Nov 27 (Reuters) - An Australian Senate

committee has backed a bill that would ban social media for

children under 16 but said social media platforms should not

force users to submit personal data such as passport and other

digital identification to prove their age.

Australia plans to trial an age-verification system that may

include biometrics or government identification to enforce a

social media age cut-off, some of the toughest controls imposed

by any country to date.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's centre-left Labor

government is rushing to pass the bill, largely supported by the

opposition Liberal party, by the end of the parliamentary year

on Thursday.

In its report published late on Tuesday, the Senate's

environment and communications legislation committee said social

media platforms "must set out alternative methods for assuring

age as reasonable steps with consideration given to the age

assurance trial."

A progress report on the age assurance trial must be

submitted by the communications minister to the parliament by

Sept. 30, 2025, the committee said as it urged the government to

"meaningfully engage" with youth when framing the law.

"Young people, and in particular diverse cohorts, must be at

the centre of the conversation as an age restriction is

implemented to ensure there are constructive pathways for

connection," committee Chair Senator Karen Grogan said.

Some independent lawmakers have criticised the government

for trying to pass the legislation in a week. The bill was

introduced last Thursday, submissions on it closed on Friday,

and a brief hearing was held on Monday.

In separate submissions, Google and

Facebook-owner Meta Platforms ( META ) said the social media ban

should be delayed until the age-verification trial finishes.

Bytedance's TikTok said the bill needed more consultation, while

Elon Musk's X said the proposed law might hurt children's human

rights.

The planned law would force social media platforms to take

reasonable steps to ensure age-verification protections are in

place. Companies could be fined up to A$49.5 million ($32

million) for systemic breaches.

($1 = 1.5451 Australian dollars)