Australians will be able to switch off social media algorithms under planned legislation
The Australian government is drafting legislation that would require social media companies to provide users with the option to disable content algorithms. Officials argue this is a necessary safety measure, though critics have raised concerns about potential censorship.
Why it matters
This legislation represents a significant attempt by a government to regulate the influence of algorithmic content curation on public discourse and user safety.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Simon Atkinson Australia producer BBC Anika Wells says social media companies should offer option to switch off algorithms Australians would be able to switch off social media algorithms under draft legislation to be proposed this week.
Communications Minister Anika Wells, who last year helmed the government's world-first social media ban for under-16s, said the digital duty of care laws would ensure "some basic safety protections on an industry that hasn't had to observe it".
If tech firms such as Meta, Google and TikTok did not give the option to turn off algorithms, they should face "substantial" penalties, she said.
Some members of the opposition have criticised the proposal, with Liberal Party leader Angus Taylor saying he was "highly sceptical" and arguing the move could amount to censorship.
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