6 hours ago
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Australia will allow social media account holders to opt out of the powerful algorithms pushing dangerous and divisive content into users’ feeds, part of new laws designed to boost online safety.
Users over 16 years of age will be given new tools to turn off algorithm-driven content, with platforms facing fines of more than A$100m for non-compliance.
Under the plan – dubbed “my feed, my way” – users opting out of the algorithm will see content only from individuals and groups they have actively chosen to follow.
Users would be asked what they want their default feed to be through a pop-up message.
New laws designed to provide a digital duty of care for social media users under 18 will also require services such as online games, apps and AI chatbots to protect children from specific harms.
They will include pornography; content that promotes, encourages or accelerates eating disorders; misogynistic content; content that glorifies crime or life-endangering stunts; and content that causes serious mental health distress, including abuse and bullying.
Australia’s regulator, known as the eSafety commissioner, will have the power to issue removal notices to social media companies, with platform operators required to document measures taken to address online harms.
Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is expected to highlight the plans at the United Nations general assembly in New York later this month.
“This is not about giving government control, it is about giving people control,” he said.
Albanese dismissed concerns of possible retaliation by big tech platforms, and their owners, many of whom have close relationships with the US president, Donald Trump.
The Labor government will require the support of the Greens to advance the laws through parliament. The main opposition parties, the Liberals and Nationals, have flagged opposition, warning the government against efforts to censor the internet.
“Of course there will be opponents, because what this is about is changing the power relationship,” Albanese said.
“We’re taking power from big global tech companies and giving it to ordinary Australians. That is what we are doing. It’s the right thing to do.”
The communications minister, Anika Wells, said tech companies had for too long been allowed to run real-time, unregulated product testing on Australian users.
“There is a global reckoning coming for big tech,” she said. “And it started here in Australia, with the introduction of our world-leading social media minimum age laws.”
Countries including France, Britain and New Zealand are following Australia in implementing social media bans for children, even as expert research showed the systems put in place in Australia in December is only partly effective.
