Australia news News

4 articles in australia news

Facebook slow to act on posts celebrating Bondi beach massacre, anti-hate group says

Facebook slow to act on posts celebrating Bondi beach massacre, anti-hate group says

Exclusive: CST highlights volume of IS-supporting accounts and says social media firms ‘putting all of us in danger’ Facebook hosted terrorist propaganda that celebrated the murder of Jews and praised Islamic State, a leading anti-hate group has alleged. The posts included celebrations of the Bondi beach massacre that the Community Security Trust says Facebook has been too slow to take down. The posts were still on Facebook on 16 December, two days after the attack, and received shares and likes. Continue reading...

theguardian.com
Dec 30, 2025
FacebookAntisemitismHate crime
Reddit launches high court challenge to Australia’s under-16s social media ban

Reddit launches high court challenge to Australia’s under-16s social media ban

Platform fighting world-leading ban on grounds it contravenes implied freedom of political communication in constitution Will Australia’s social media ban survive a high court challenge? Reddit has filed a challenge against Australia’s under-16s social media ban in the high court, lodging its case two days after implementing age restrictions on its website. The company said in a Reddit post on Friday that while it agreed with protecting people under 16, the law “has the unfortunate effect of forcing intrusive and potentially insecure verification processes on adults as well as minors, isolating teens from the ability to engage in age-appropriate community experiences”. Reddit said there was an “illogical patchwork” of platforms included in the ban. Continue reading...

theguardian.com
Dec 12, 2025
Social media banAustralia newsReddit
Australia’s world-first social media ban begins as millions of children and teens lose access to accounts

Australia’s world-first social media ban begins as millions of children and teens lose access to accounts

Accounts held by users under 16 must be removed on apps that include TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick, Twitch and Threads under ban How is Australia’s social media ban affecting you and your family? The social media ban explained: everything you need to know Australia has enacted a world-first ban on social media for users aged under 16 , causing millions of children and teenagers to lose access to their accounts. Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick, Twitch and TikTok are expected to have taken steps from Wednesday to remove accounts held by users under 16 years of age in Australia, and prevent those teens from registering new accounts. Continue reading...

theguardian.com
Dec 9, 2025
Social media banSocial mediaTechnology
‘A step-change’: tech firms battle for undersea dominance with submarine drones

‘A step-change’: tech firms battle for undersea dominance with submarine drones

As navies seek to counter submarines and protect cables, startups and big defence companies fight to lead market Flying drones used during the Ukraine war have changed land battle tactics for ever. Now the same thing appears to be happening under the sea. Navies around the world are racing to add autonomous submarines. The UK’s Royal Navy is planning a fleet of underwater uncrewed vehicles (UUVs) which will, for the first time, take a leading role in tracking submarines and protecting undersea cables and pipelines. Australia has committed to spending $1.7bn (£1.3bn) on “Ghost Shark” submarines to counter Chinese submarines. The huge US Navy is spending billions on several UUV projects, including one already in use that can be launched from nuclear submarines. Continue reading...

theguardian.com
Nov 28, 2025
Technology sectorBusinessDefence policy