Youtube in eSafety Commissioner’s crosshairs: ‘Opaque’ algorithm leaving children ‘powerless’
The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has used her address at the National Press Club to hit out at Youtube, saying its design features and its algorithm leave children “powerless” to fight against it.
Her strong stance comes amidst intense scrutiny on the video-sharing platform, which kicked off when the Albanese government earlier said Youtube could be exempt from the looming social media ban for under 16s. This week it emerged that Inman Grant had written to the government and recommended that Youtube not be exempt.
Her words at the National Press Club, however, were more emphatic, particularly when pressed by journalists about why she was seemingly targeting one platform.
I do not think governments should be in the business of parenting other people’s children