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Australia pushes global online safety standards, legislating digital duty of care and algorithm opt-out
Key points
- Australia banned social media for children under 16, closing 5 million accounts.
- New legislation will introduce a digital duty of care for social media companies.
- Users will gain the ability to opt out of social media algorithms.
- Australia seeks to establish global online safety standards.
Australia's Online Safety Initiatives
Australia is promoting its online safety measures on the international stage, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese seeking collaborators at the United Nations General Assembly. The country previously implemented a ban on social media accounts for children under 16, a policy that has resulted in the closure of approximately 5 million accounts in Australia.
This initiative has drawn attention from other nations, including France, Brazil, and Indonesia, which are reportedly considering similar actions. Australia views these efforts as a model for global digital safety standards.
New Legislative Proposals
Building on its existing measures, Australia announced plans to legislate a digital duty of care for social media companies. This proposed legislation aims to hold platforms accountable for online harm.
Additionally, the new rules will allow social media users to opt out of powerful algorithms. This feature is intended to address concerns about algorithms contributing to community fragmentation, heightened political debates, and the targeting of vulnerable individuals.
International Advocacy and Impact
Prime Minister Albanese is actively engaging with international leaders and tech executives, including Apple's Tim Cook, to foster a global movement for online safety. He emphasizes that Australia's actions are driven by community demand to protect children from being treated as commodities online.
Polling in Australia indicates strong public support for these measures, with 66% of voters supporting opt-out requirements for algorithms. Australia positions itself as a leader in tackling the influence of big tech on daily life, using public pressure, potential fines, and diplomacy to address online harm.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Australia is advocating for international collaboration on online safety, building on its ban of social media for children under 16, which has led to 5 million account closures. The country plans to legislate a digital duty of care and allow users to opt out of social media algorithms, aiming to set a global standard for digital safety.