Australia to Mandate Social Media Algorithm Controls in New Draft Legislation

Australians will soon have the legal right to disable social media algorithms under draft legislation set to be introduced this week. Communications Minister Anika Wells, who previously oversaw the government’s world-first ban on social media for children under 16, stated that the proposed digital duty of care laws aim to enforce basic safety standards in an industry that has operated without them.

Wells emphasized that major technology firms, including Meta, Google, and TikTok, would face significant financial penalties if they failed to provide users with the option to turn off algorithmic content feeds. The government is currently consulting experts to determine whether the system should operate on an opt-in or opt-out basis.

Speaking to the ABC, Wells highlighted the balance between user choice and platform utility. “We know that a lot of Australians appreciate the algorithm both for the enjoyment they get out of it or the utility that they get out of it, seeing local businesses in their suburb,” she said. “But we think that big tech should offer them the choice in the first place and they should respect that choice. Big tech is not a protected species.}

Opposition critics have reacted with skepticism. Liberal Party leader Angus Taylor labeled the proposal as a potential attempt at censorship. Telling News24 he was “highly sceptical,” Taylor argued that the government should first address loopholes in the existing under-16 social media ban rather than expanding regulatory reach. During an appearance on Channel Nine’s Today show, Wells pushed back against these claims, asserting that the regulations are about risk mitigation, not suppressing speech.

The push for stricter algorithmic controls follows a recent speech by consent advocate Chanel Contos at the National Press Club. Contos called for an opt-in model for algorithmic feeds, arguing that current systems contribute to the prevalence of sexual violence and expose young people to misogynistic content.

While the draft legislation focuses heavily on algorithmic transparency, it also places new obligations on platforms to prevent the spread of harmful material, including illegal pornography and content that promotes disordered eating. The measures come despite ongoing challenges in enforcing the previous age-based ban, with research indicating that most under-16 users continue to access platforms despite the restrictions.