From NZ Herald · · 2m
Labour wants to force social media changes or pay price
Labour promises social media companies must let users choose feeds or face penalties.
In brief
Labour promises social media companies must let users choose feeds or face penalties. Labour plans to require social media platforms to let users switch between algorithmic and followed-content feeds within 100 days, with penalties including $40 million or 10% of global turnover for non-compliance. Originally reported…
Labour's social media plan
Labour promises to require social media companies to let users choose between algorithmic feeds and feeds only showing followed accounts within 100 days.
“The algorithms deciding what we see are designed to keeping us scrolling, but that’s not always what Kiwis want”
Digital Duty of Care
Labour will impose new legal responsibilities on social media companies including stronger protections against harmful content and non-consensual sexual images.
Penalties for non-compliance
The most serious penalty for non-compliance would be the greater of $40 million or 10% of the relevant global turnover.
Global cooperation
Labour plans to work with other countries like Australia to enforce social media regulations and create a framework for online safety.
National's stance
National leader Christopher Luxon supports similar social media ban for under-16s but emphasizes global cooperation for enforcement.
NZ First's criticism
NZ First leader Winston Peters calls Labour's social media ban for under-16s a 'naive solution' requiring digital ID for all or VPN bans.
“Throwing out simplistic soundbites denies the reality that banning social media in its entirety means either banning VPNs or using digital ID for everyone”
Under-16s ban timeline
Labour plans to send the social media ban bill through first reading and to a select committee within 100 days.
Age verification challenges
Labour promises stronger privacy safeguards on age checks for the social media ban bill.
Penalty enforcement
Labour says platforms will have to work within new rules or face penalties including $40 million or 10% of global turnover.
Global impact
Labour claims global social media platforms are losing their social license to operate and need stronger rules for online safety.
National's position
National leader Christopher Luxon says the government's social media ban bill will go to first reading within 100 days.
NZ First's concerns
NZ First leader Winston Peters warns that banning social media for under-16s would require digital ID for all or VPN bans.
“Throwing out simplistic soundbites denies the reality that banning social media in its entirety means either banning VPNs or using digital ID for everyone”
Bill support
The social media ban bill has only support from National in the current coalition government.
Digital ID concerns
NZ First leader Winston Peters says the social media ban would require digital ID for all users or banning VPNs.
“Throwing out simplistic soundbites denies the reality that banning social media in its entirety means either banning VPNs or using digital ID for everyone”
What happens next
Labour plans to implement the social media changes within 100 days with penalties for non-compliance.
The takeaway
Labour plans to require social media platforms to let users switch between algorithmic and followed-content feeds within 100 days, with penalties including $40 million or 10% of global turnover for non-compliance.
