Australia introduces digital duty of care laws amid Greens' demands

The Australian federal government is set to introduce Digital Duty of Care legislation into parliament this week. The proposed laws aim to hold social media companies, search engines, and AI chatbots accountable by requiring them to take reasonable steps to mitigate foreseeable harms, such as pornography or content promoting eating disorders, particularly for underage users.

The Australian Greens have established three conditions for their support of the legislation. Senator Sarah Hanson-Young stated that to “meaningfully change the behaviour of big tech companies,” the laws must include a right for individuals to sue for compensation for online harms. The Greens are also seeking stronger guardrails against addictive algorithms and financial penalties linked to a percentage of a firm’s global revenue.

In a shift from previous drafts, the government appears prepared to reduce the ministerial discretion previously granted to the Communications Minister to designate new harms. The legislative package also includes proposed changes to trust taxation and a gas reservation policy intended to lower prices.