The Australian Labor government is set to introduce a digital duty of care for social media users, a plan that faces significant opposition in federal parliament. Communications minister Anika Wells is expected to release draft legislation this week as parliament returns, according to reports from Guardian Australia.
Proposed rules and fines
The new rules under consideration would require popular social media platforms to allow users to turn off the algorithms that control content in their feeds. Platforms would also need to better identify problematic or illegal content to protect vulnerable users, including children. The government aims to shield users from content that reinforces dangerous stereotypes and behaviours, particularly around body image, women's safety, and child protection.
Fines exceeding $100 million would be introduced for breaches, with new powers granted to the eSafety commissioner and researchers to investigate platform compliance. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to promote the plan at the United Nations general assembly in New York later this month.
Opposition from the Coalition and One Nation
Opposition leader Angus Taylor expressed deep scepticism about the proposal, urging the government to first fix problems with its under-16s social media ban. Taylor told News24 on Sunday that the current ban has resulted in only a 4.4% reduction in access, which he described as "immaterial in the scheme of things." He said parents want more control over what their children see on social media.
"We'll wait and see this legislation. I'm deeply sceptical. I fear that this is just going to be an attempt by the government to censor social media," Taylor said. He also warned against giving the communications minister "enormous" discretion in any new powers, stating, "I fear, given Labor and the minister's past biases, that this will just be an attempt to censor the internet, and that's not what we should be doing."
Shadow home affairs minister Jonno Duniam, the outgoing Liberal senator, compared the plan to the government's dumped anti-misinformation legislation from Labor's first term. Duniam told ABC TV that the Coalition would only support the plan if "it doesn't necessarily impede on people's rights and freedoms," suggesting existing classification programs for broadcast, free-to-air, film, and cinema could serve as a baseline.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has also slammed the plan, posting on social media, "Australia should be moving away from government censorship, not building the Orwellian machinery for it."
Greens support and Senate prospects
Given the opposition from the Coalition and One Nation, any new legislation would require support from the Greens to pass the Senate. The Greens have called for opt-in rules, similar to those supported by campaigner Chanel Contos. This model would require social media users to give explicit consent before being subjected to algorithm-based content in their feeds.
The government's digital duty of care proposal is expected to be a key point of debate as parliament resumes, with the outcome depending on cross-party negotiations in the Senate.
