Summarised by Centrist
National is asking Labour to help pass an under-16 social media ban because ACT, its coalition partner, opposes the policy as unworkable and a privacy risk.
Yet Labour says the government will not give its caucus a copy of the proposed law.
Labour science, technology and innovation spokesperson Reuben Davidson has viewed the draft in Education Minister Erica Stanford’s office but says he cannot take a copy to Labour’s caucus.
“I think it’s unusual to ask someone to make a decision if they don’t have the thing they’re being asked to make a decision about in front of them,” Davidson said.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins said that “makes it very difficult for us to have an informed conversation about it” if National seriously wants support.
One detail Davidson did confirm is that the draft contains no ban on virtual private networks. VPNs allow users to route traffic through another country and have been a common way for Australian teenagers to circumvent age restrictions.
Stanford did not respond to media questions.
