Media Roundup: Social media ban backlash, ABC cracks down, Wilkinson takes aim, Apple's iPad revamp and Death of the Author

Tech

Tech giants push back on Australia's under-16 social media ban

Tech companies are raising concerns over the federal government's lack of transparency in developing its under-16 social media ban, with Meta accusing communications minister Michelle Rowland of keeping platforms in the dark.

As Paul Sakkal reports in The Sydney Morning Herald, the backlash comes just weeks after former US President Donald Trump threatened penalties for nations targeting American digital firms.

Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, claims the government is crafting rules behind closed doors, shutting out key stakeholders. “This goes against commitments made to parents, safety groups, and tech companies that public consultation would take place,” the company said in a statement.

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Apple speeds up iPad Air refresh as AI race heats up

Apple has unveiled a faster iPad Air, packing an M3 chip and AI-ready capabilities in a move to sustain momentum after a strong holiday sales boost. Available in 11-inch and 13-inch models, the tablets start at $US599 ($965) and $US799, with orders open now and shipments beginning March 12.

As Mark Gurman reports in The Australian Financial Review, with performance nearly doubling compared to M1-powered models, the refreshed iPad Air is designed to handle Apple's AI-powered features, dubbed Apple Intelligence, up to 60% faster.

The update comes just 10 months after the last version, signalling Apple’s push for quicker hardware cycles to stay ahead in the AI-driven device market.

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Television

ABC cracks down on political ad footage use

The ABC has ordered former Triple J host and teal candidate Alex Dyson to pull campaign ads featuring footage from its investigative program Four Corners, after he used the content without permission. The broadcaster maintains a strict policy against its material being repurposed for political messaging.

As James Madden writes in The Australian, Dyson’s ads included an interview with Peter Small, a former Liberal branch president, who criticised his party’s neglect of rural voters and called for Wannon to become a more contested seat. While Dyson credited the Four Corners footage in his ads, he did not seek ABC approval before repurposing it.

After being alerted by the media, the ABC swiftly contacted Dyson’s team, demanding the footage’s removal.