Controversial comedian Russell Brand has brutally mocked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over the government’s bold plan to ban children from social media.

Mr Albanese announced on Thursday that the government would introduce laws to prevent Australian children under 16 from using many popular online apps.

“Social media is hurting our children, and I’m putting a stop to it,” Mr Albanese said at a press conference outside Parliament.

The 49-year-old British comedian, who hosts a web show called “Stay Free with Russell Brand,” told viewers the move was an act of “legitimizing mass censorship.”

“In Australia, social media is incredibly restricted: under 16s are not allowed on it,” Brand said in the video posted to Rumble.

He said that “as a parent” he could see how preventing children from accessing social media could “somehow be reasonable on the surface”.

But he then questioned whether “at some point” the laws would be used to introduce more generalized rules to other segments of the population.

“Do you think that across the world they are saying ‘oh no, we don’t want another Trump.’ Let’s start by legitimizing mass censorship of social media, first by protecting children, then by protecting adults, who are really just furry children?’

Brand has two million followers on his Rumble page, a YouTube alternative that gained popularity over the past four years when prominent conservatives began flocking there after complaining about being censored on other platforms .

Rumble’s cloud services business hosts Donald Trump’s “Truth Social” platform.

British comedian Russell Brand has taken aim at (pictured) Anthony Albanese over his social media ban on children, questioning whether it was a ploy to “legitimize censorship”.

Mr Albanese said the government’s decision was informed by conversations he had had with “thousands of parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles”.

“They, like me, have huge concerns about children’s safety online and I want parents and families to know that the government has your back,” he said.

Brand mercilessly mocked the Prime Minister’s accent and suggested that speaking to real Australians, even if there were thousands, did not represent everyone’s views.

“I spoke to an aunt and uncle earlier today,” Brand said, imitating Mr. Albanese.

“They are terrified of their children being on social media.

“I spoke to a certain Scrooge Mcduck who was terrified that Huey, Dewy and Louie might be led to think anything other than state-sanctioned views.”

Over the next three minutes, Brand went on to suggest that the government was “going to put an end to” what people are doing.

Brand acknowledged that it was parents’ “job” to protect their children, but argued that this did not mean governments could impose rules on their citizens that “affect the vast population.”

“Especially if they are controlled by global cartels,” Brand said.

Brand mocked Mr Albanese (pictured) over concerns he said parents were raising about their children’s use of social media.

The federal government revealed in September that it was considering limiting the use of apps such as Instagram, Facebook and TikTok for children under 16.

The ban will likely apply to these and other platforms, including YouTube and Reddit, however, some apps like YouTube Kids and those with an educational aspect would be exempt.

The ban gained momentum after gaining support from child safety experts and the Coalition.

Legislation imposing this mandate is expected to take effect next year, as the bill must pass the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Details of how the ban will be enforced are not yet clear, but responsibility for ensuring social media companies comply with age limits will likely fall with the Office of the Electronic Safety Commissioner.

Parents and young people will be exempt if they do not take reasonable steps to prevent children and young people from accessing the platforms.

Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland called the measures “world-leading.”

Ms Rowland said the laws would be designed to prevent “content harm and addictive behavior” caused by social media use.

The government says the ban is necessary because social media negatively affects the mental health of children and adolescents.

Anthony Albanese announced on Thursday that the government would introduce laws banning children under 16 from using popular online apps (file photo).

Brand has been active on Rumble despite facing a number of accusations regarding his behavior towards women in the past.

London Metropolitan Police detectives said last Saturday they had handed over a file of evidence to the U.K. Crown Prosecution Service, which plans to charge Brand with historical sexual assault allegations.

Less than 48 hours later, he traveled from his home in Oxfordshire to London’s Heathrow Airport and reached Florida on Monday morning, where he is currently staying in one of Walt Disney World’s luxury hotels with his wife and her children.

Brand traveled this week from London’s Heathrow Airport to Florida where he is staying at one of Walt Disney World’s most luxurious hotels with his wife Laura (pictured) and children.

A source said: “Obviously Russell was all over the news (in the UK) last weekend because of the police investigation into him, and two days later he left the country.

“He obviously wants to get away from all the noise around him and spend time with his family – he’s given his wife Laura and their three children an amazing vacation, the complete Disney experience, we’re not sure how much time he plans to pass.” stay there.

The Met Police said they had received “a number of allegations of sexual offenses in London” and elsewhere in the UK following a joint investigation into Brand by Channel 4 Dispatches, The Times and Sunday Times in September 2023.

Brand has denied the allegations, which relate to the period from 2006 to 2013, when he was at the height of his fame.