Australia introduces Digital Duty of Care bill to regulate big tech

Digital Duty of Care social media regulation algorithmic feeds online safety big tech

The Australian government has formally introduced the Digital Duty of Care bill to Parliament, aiming to increase accountability for technology companies regarding online safety. A central feature of the legislation is the “My Feed, My Way” initiative, which would allow users over the age of 16 to opt out of algorithmic recommendation feeds and instead view content based on the accounts they follow.

The bill mandates that platforms, including social media, gaming services, and AI chatbots, take proactive steps to protect users under 18 from harmful content such as pornography, cyberbullying, and material promoting eating disorders or dangerous stunts. Companies found in violation of these safety standards could face fines of up to A$109.2 million.

To support independent oversight, the legislation would legalize the use of “sock puppet” accounts by researchers and regulators to investigate platform behavior without facing legal threats. Additionally, the bill includes protections for professional journalism to ensure news content is not inadvertently restricted. To address political concerns regarding censorship, the government removed a provision that would have granted the Communications Minister unilateral power to define new categories of harmful content, instead requiring parliamentary approval for such changes.

Entities

Anika Wells · Australian Government · Facebook · Instagram · Meta · TikTok

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 8 SOURCES] Users over 16 can choose to opt out of algorithmic recommendation feeds. www.syri-vision.tv · eveningreport.nz · www.proactiveinvestors.com.au · theqldr.com.au · fjala.al · +3 more
[● 6 SOURCES] Platforms must protect users under 18 from pornography, bullying, and content promoting eating disorders. fjala.al · www.syri-vision.tv · uzalendonews.co.ke · www.proactiveinvestors.com.au · theqldr.com.au · +1 more
[● 9 SOURCES] The Australian government introduced the Digital Duty of Care bill to Parliament. fjala.al · www.syri-vision.tv · uzalendonews.co.ke · eveningreport.nz · www.proactiveinvestors.com.au · +4 more
[● 2 SOURCES] The legislation requires parliamentary approval for any future additions to harmful content categories. www.proactiveinvestors.com.au · theqldr.com.au
[● 2 SOURCES] Companies violating the requirements could face fines of up to A$109.2 million. www.syri-vision.tv · www.proactiveinvestors.com.au
[● 3 SOURCES] The bill removes a proposal that would have given the minister power to define harmful content. uzalendonews.co.ke · www.proactiveinvestors.com.au · theqldr.com.au
[● 3 SOURCES] Professional journalism and news content are excluded from certain provisions to protect reporting. www.syri-vision.tv · www.proactiveinvestors.com.au · theqldr.com.au
[● 2 SOURCES] The legislation would make it lawful for researchers to use 'sock puppet' accounts to investigate platforms. www.perthnow.com.au · switzer.com.au