Tech5: Google may face Chrome sale, Australia introduces social media bill to protect children, and more
Forbes India's daily tech news bulletin with five headlines that caught our attention
US Department of Justice prosecutors have proposed a series of measures to break Google’s online search monopoly, which if a judge agrees with, will require Google to sell its Chrome browser and share data with rivals, Reuters reported on November 20.
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Australia introduces bill to ban social media for children under 16
The Australian government has introduced a bill in parliament to ban social media for children under 16, the highest such age limit set by any country, Reuters reported earlier today. The bill also proposes fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for social media platforms for systemic breaches.The country will trial an age-verification system that may include biometrics or government identification to enforce the social media age limit, according to Reuters. If the country’s parliament enacts the bill into law, it allows for no exemptions for parental consent or for pre-existing accounts, according to the report.
Children will, however, have access to messaging, online gaming and services for health and education.
"This is a landmark reform. We know some kids will find workarounds, but we're sending a message to social media companies to clean up their act," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement that this was a “landmark report” even though some children will find workarounds. “We’re sending a message to social media companies to clean up their act,” the premier said in a statement, Reuters reported.
