Overview
- On Sunday Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the federal government is seriously considering a UK‑style ban on pornography that depicts strangulation, proposals to let users opt in or opt out of recommender algorithms, and a possible moratorium on covert smart‑glasses while investigations into a recent suspected sexual strangulation in Sydney continue.
- Plibersek framed the measures as part of Labor's planned digital duty of care, which would require tech firms to identify and reduce foreseeable harms rather than only respond to complaints.
- Ministers and experts pointed to research showing high self‑reported rates of strangulation during sex among young people and to studies that say algorithms can quickly surface misogynistic or violent content, a dynamic the government wants to disrupt.
- Education actions are also being pursued: the government has opened a review of consent and respectful‑relationships teaching and has invited campaign groups such as Teach Us Consent to help shape how schools teach that pornography is not real life.
- No laws have been passed; the government has started consultations, appointed an advisory council on family and sexual violence, is monitoring major international tech settlements for relevant safeguards, and expects further announcements including an attorney‑general update on smart‑glasses policy.