Australia’s internet regulator has declared that the country’s new under-16 social media ban marks the start of a global effort to curb Big Tech’s influence, as Meta began locking out hundreds of thousands of accounts ahead of the new law’s enforcement next week.

A Landmark Move Against Online Giants

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said she had initially hesitated over what she described as a “blunt-force” measure but now supports the ban after years of gradual reforms failed to protect young users. Speaking at the Sydney Dialogue cyber summit on Thursday, she said, “We’ve reached a tipping point. Our data is the currency that fuels these companies, and there are these powerful, harmful, deceptive design features that even adults are powerless to fight against. What chance do our

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