Tech billionaire Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X, criticized proposed legislation in Australia that aims to ban social media for children under 16.

An Australian Cabinet minister on Friday rejected X Corp. owner Elon Musk’s allegation that the government intended to control all Australians' access to the internet through legislation that would ban young children from social media.

"Our job is to put in place the necessary protection for kids online," Australia's treasurer said after the billionaire criticised its new social media age limit bill. View on euronews

Tech billionaire Elon Musk criticized Australia’s proposed legislation to ban social media access for children under 16, calling it “a backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has challenged billionaire Elon Musk on his criticism of the government’s plans to block children under 16 from using social media, saying it is not Australia’s job to please the X owner.

Elon Musk has had a swing at the Labor government’s social media ban for people under 16 as he prepares to take a leading role in the Trump administration.

U.S. billionaire Elon Musk, owner of social media platform X, has criticised Australia's proposed law to ban social media for children under 16 and fine social media platforms of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for companies for systemic breaches.

Elon Musk has blasted proposed legislation from Australia's government that would outlaw access to social media for children under 16.

Australia’s communications minister Michelle Rowland introduced a world-first law into Parliament on Thursday that would ban children younger than 16 from social media, saying online safety was one of parents’ toughest challenges.

The hard and fast proposed changes would ban all kids under 16 from social media, regardless of parental consent.

Australia’s communications minister introduced a world-first law into Parliament on Thursday that would ban children under 16 from social media, saying online safety was one of parents’ toughest challenges.