If elected to Parliament, Opportunity will support the Online Safety (Minimum Age and Child Safety Risk Assessment) Bill at first reading so it can be properly tested at select committee.

“Children are exposed to real harms online, and the current regulatory system has not kept pace,” Opportunity Leader Qiulae Wong says.

“New Zealanders want to have a conversation about addressing those harms and National’s bill gives us a chance to do that.

“However, the Government’s own analysis says the evidence that an under-16 age restriction will be effective is mixed.

“Opportunity supports stronger obligations on platforms to address harmful algorithms, addictive design, behavioural profiling, data leaks, and other systemic risks.

“Stronger protections should commence alongside this legislation, not be deferred to a later phase. An age restriction isn’t a substitute for making the platforms themselves safer,” says Wong.

Opportunity will reserve its position on the Bill’s final passage while select committee examines the evidence for the age restriction, the privacy implications of age assurance, and whether broader platform regulation should be brought forward.