In pic: Australia PM Anthony Albanese
It’s about giving people control,” he said. The push comes as social media companies face mounting scrutiny worldwide over how they design their algorithms. Critics argue the systems encourage addictive behaviour by steering users toward extended viewing sessions through a stream of similar recommended content. Free speech advocates have raised concerns, warning that the broader legislation could lead to censorship. Albanese pushed back on that characterisation. “It’s not about giving government control.
The draft legislation, unveiled in Sydney, follows the country’s world-first ban on social media for children. Under the proposed law, platforms would have to notify users of the choice and offer them a default feed setting: one that includes personalised content recommended by an algorithm, or one that shows posts only from friends and creators the user has chosen to follow.
The European Union’s Digital Services Act has required platforms to let users switch off algorithmic profiling since 2024.
This move is the latest step in the government’s broader campaign to tighten oversight of online platforms. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese framed the plan as a matter of user control rather than government overreach, according to a Reuters report. “This is sensible, pragmatic, practical reform,” he told reporters, the Reuters report added. “It gives users choice and it will hold the big tech companies responsible for inaction if they don’t follow our laws.” Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, and Alphabet’s Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Companies that fail to comply could face penalties of up to A$109.2 million (about $79 million). eSafety, Australia’s internet regulator, would enforce the rules and would also gain the power to issue notices requiring platforms to swiftly take down harmful, nudity-related and illegal content, the Reuters report noted. Under the plan, dubbed “My Feed, My Way,” platforms would also be required to document the steps they have taken to address identified risks of harm to Australian users, and to show that those measures continue to work over time. Australia is not the first to try this approach. That rollout has not been entirely smooth: regulators there have said platforms have not made the opt-out process simple enough for users to navigate. The government said it would seek feedback on the draft legislation from digital platforms, industry bodies, civil society organisations and advocacy groups before introducing the bill to Parliament later this year. Get the latest technology news and updates.
Australia has proposed new social media rules. These rules would require social media platforms to let users choose between an algorithm-driven feed and one that shows only posts from accounts they follow. Download the TOI App.