Reuben Davidson: Labour's Technology spokesperson on the party's proposed teen social media ban

Now, Labour is coming to the party on social media. It is promising to ban social media for under-16s in its first 100 days if it is elected to government. But also, it will let you choose to opt out of the algorithm that dictates what you see on your feed. Reuben Davidson is Labour's science, technology and innovation spokesperson and with us. Hi, Ruben.

G'day.

Now, I am pleased to see that you've come to the party on this, but why only now?

We've been at this party for a long time. So I've had a member's bill in this last term of government. When the government started talking about a social media bill, and let's be clear, all they've done is talk about it. We said, let's see it. Let's work together on this. The minister was very secretive. There was a lot of coverage of the fact that she had a bill but didn't want to share it. When we finally were able to share that bill with our caucus, we announced that we would support that within 24 hours of having the bill. So this is something we take really seriously. We've said that we will get this bill, have its first reading within the first 100 days. National have had 1,000. They've done nothing.

OK, what happens after the first 100 days? When do you plan to pass it? Because a first reading does nothing.

No, the first reading does actually do something very important. The first reading allows that bill to go to select committee. So if the National Party had found one hour, which is all a first reading takes, that bill would now be at select committee, which means every New Zealander who wanted to make a submission, who wanted to share their experience or their advice, or their thoughts on how we shape that bill up to best protect young people and all New Zealanders online, would be being able to make those submissions, which means the government early in the new year, January, February, would be able to start looking at those submissions at select committee and shaping up regulations to protect New Zealanders.

Okay, when do you plan to pass it though?

Well, a good select committee process takes about six months for submissions, and then there is a second reading, a committee of the whole House, and a third reading. So those things can happen in relatively quick succession once the select committee process has allowed a bill to be put into good shape. I know

how Parliament works, mate. I'm asking you for when you're going to pass it by. Can you give me an answer?

So the first reading of the bill within the first 100 days, and then if you know how Parliament works, then obviously six months to take it through a select committee. There's nothing to stop us getting the balance of readings and committee of whole house through within one year from when we first introduced the bill. So

you're going to pass it by this time or November next year?

Well... Given the opportunity, I don't see why we wouldn't be able to do that. It's a really, really urgent issue for New Zealanders.

Ruben, that was like pulling teeth, mate. Now, the tech companies, how are they going to respond to this business about the algorithm?

Well, I mean, that's a good question. And if you look around the world, there are a number of other