Australia proposes social media algorithm opt-out laws with fines and regulatory oversight
Consensus Summary
The Australian government is proposing new 'digital duty of care' laws requiring social media platforms to allow users to opt out of algorithmic feeds, replacing them with content only from followed accounts. The draft legislation, to be introduced this week, includes fines of more than $100 million dollars for non-compliance and empowers the eSafety Commissioner to monitor platforms, including using 'sock puppets' to test compliance. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese framed the proposal as 'empowering people' rather than government control, with the Greens supporting a tougher opt-in approach. Opposition parties, including the Coalition and One Nation, have expressed skepticism or outright opposition, warning of potential censorship. The proposal also targets specific harms for under-18s, such as body image issues and bullying, while focusing on illegal content for adults. The laws will require platforms to disable algorithmic feeds for users under 16, alongside existing social media bans. The Guardian highlights past experiments showing algorithms push extreme content and references Meta’s $18bn settlement and EU compliance issues, while the ABC emphasizes the Coalition’s divided stance and the need for parental control. Both sources agree the proposal will require Greens support to pass the Senate.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The Australian government plans to introduce a 'digital duty of care' law requiring social media platforms to allow users to opt out of algorithmic feeds, replacing them with content only from followed accounts
- The draft laws will be introduced this week by the federal government
- Fines of more than $100 million dollars will be imposed for breaches of the proposed law
- The proposal includes a pop-up notification system asking users whether they want algorithmic content or only content from followed accounts
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the plan on Tuesday, framing it as 'empowering people' rather than government control
- The Greens have called for a tougher approach, including an opt-in system for algorithms, rather than the government's opt-out proposal
- The Coalition and One Nation have expressed skepticism or opposition, with Angus Taylor warning of potential censorship and Pauline Hanson criticizing government control over online content
- The proposal will require platforms to disable algorithmic feeds and endless scrolling for users under 16, alongside existing social media bans for this age group
- The eSafety Commissioner and independent researchers will be empowered to monitor compliance, including using 'sock puppets' to test platforms
- The proposal covers harms for under-18s, including body image, bullying, misogyny, and eating disorders, while for adults, it focuses on illegal content like child abuse, violence, and threats
- Meta (Facebook/Instagram) faced a $18bn settlement in a US court case last month, with low take-up (1.8%) of safety features like 'Take a Break'
- The proposal will be discussed at the United Nations General Assembly later this month by Prime Minister Albanese
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Shadow Communications Minister Sarah Henderson previously referred to 'insidious psychological manipulation' of children by algorithms, while Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson argued algorithms merely reflect user preferences
- The Coalition has not yet taken a formal position on the draft laws, with Nationals leader Matt Canavan expressing skepticism about government control over online content
- The draft laws will be released for consultation on Tuesday, with the Greens and Coalition pledging to review them before finalizing positions
- The proposal includes a mechanism for the communications minister to add new harms to the list, with examples like AI-generated 'nudification' of images
- Father Wayne Holdsworth, who lost his son to suicide in 2023, supported the duty of care, calling for Australia to 'improve opportunities for our kids and keep them safe'
- Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie called for an opt-in scheme for algorithms and said 'big tech has had way too much freedom'
- The Greens acknowledged the proposal as a step forward but will 'kick the tyres' and negotiate for tougher measures
- Guardian Australia conducted experiments in 2024 with blank phones to test how algorithms push extreme content, finding 'shocking' results including misogynistic and far-right material
- The proposal includes a comparison to Apple’s 2021 iOS notification allowing users to opt out of ad tracking, which cost Meta $10bn in one quarter
- Meta introduced a no-algorithm feed option in 2023 to comply with EU law but was ordered by a Dutch court in 2025 to provide a direct and simple opt-out method after users were reverted to the algorithm
- The prime minister thanked News Corp for its support for the social media ban in Tuesday’s press conference
- The proposal aims to address 'toxic' content rewarded by engagement, including outrage bait in politics and public discourse
- The Guardian highlights that the social media ban for under-16s has only achieved a 4.4% reduction in access, calling it 'immaterial'
- The proposal includes a 'My Feed, My Way' initiative, with Albanese stating 'If people want to doom scroll… that’s fine, that’s up to them'
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The Guardian states the social media ban for under-16s has only achieved a 4.4% reduction, while the ABC does not mention this specific statistic
- The ABC notes the Coalition has not yet taken a position on the draft laws, while the Guardian reports Angus Taylor explicitly called the proposal 'deeply sceptical' and accused it of censorship
- The Guardian references Meta’s 2023 EU compliance and 2025 Dutch court order, while the ABC does not mention these specific dates or legal actions
- The Guardian includes a 2024 experiment by Guardian Australia testing algorithmic feeds, which the ABC does not reference
- The ABC mentions the Coalition’s mixed signals on algorithms, with Sarah Henderson criticizing manipulation and Tim Wilson arguing algorithms reflect user preferences, while the Guardian does not quote Wilson
Source Articles
Social media users could opt out of the algorithm if Australian government has its way – but that’s a big if
Even if the legislation passes, tech companies may still find ways to frustrate its intent and keep Australians hooked on their feed Social media could become a “choose your own adventure” between the doom-scrolling status quo, or just the feed of the friends you want to see, if the government’s planned digital duty of care legislation passes, and the tech companies don’t muck around on compliance. But that’s a big if. Continue reading...
Social media platforms to be forced to offer algorithm opt-out
Social media companies would be required to give users a choice to turn off their algorithm through pop-up messages, under draft laws to be unveiled by the government later this week.
Labor plans crackdown on social media algorithms as Taylor says he’s ‘deeply sceptical’
Anika Wells expected to release legislation creating a digital duty of care in parliament this week, but Coalition argues it is ‘attempt to censor the internet’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here Labor’s plan to crack down on social media algorithms faces significant opposition in federal parliament, with the opposition leader, Angus Taylor, warning against efforts by the government to “censor” free speech onli
Australians could get the power to switch off social media algorithms
Labor wants to make social media platforms proactively reduce foreseeable harms while giving users control over whether algorithms shape their feeds.
Australia to force social media platforms to allow users to opt out of algorithms
Draft legislation enforces digital duty of care including limiting children’s exposure to misogynistic and eating disorder content 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. Continue reading
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