Overview
- The Albanese government will publish an exposure draft of a 'digital duty of care' this week that would force social media firms to give users a clear choice to switch off recommender algorithms via regular pop‑up prompts.
- The draft puts primary legal responsibility on platforms to identify and remove harmful or illegal content on their services rather than leaving mitigation solely to users.
- For people under 18 the laws would add defined 'psycho‑social' harm categories such as body image and bullying and aim to limit minors’ exposure to violent or misogynistic material.
- The proposal expands the eSafety Commissioner’s enforcement powers by allowing registered researchers to test platform behaviour, including using simulated accounts to check what children are shown, and attaches fines of about A$100–109 million for breaches.
- The plan has split politics and advocates: Labor is pushing for fast passage, the Coalition warns of censorship risks, and campaigners including the Greens say an opt‑out model is weaker than the opt‑in or default chronological feeds they want.