Australia to introduce digital duty of care for social media

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 18:02 · Archive

Australia's communications minister will introduce laws setting safety standards for social media platforms and giving users algorithm-less feed options.

Australia's Communications Minister Anika Wells will introduce a digital duty of care law on Thursday to establish safety standards for social media platforms. The legislation will require platforms to protect users under 18 from content that promotes crime, eating disorders, pornography and misogynistic material, as well as posts that cause distress. Users will be given the option of viewing feeds without algorithmic curation.

Wells will address the National Press Club to explain the reforms. She will say the duty of care will shift responsibility from victims to the companies creating harmful environments. 'Australia's Digital Duty of Care will set basic safety standards for the online services we use every day, just like we have in every other industry,' she will say. 'We must shift the burden from the shoulders of victims to the companies that are creating the environments where harms occur.'

The minister will not have discretionary powers to define what constitutes a new harm, following concerns that such powers could be seen as political censorship. Parliament will retain the ability to legislate further protections under the duty of care. The legislation will also include carve-outs for public interest journalists, clarifying protections already in the Online Safety Act.

How it is being reported

• Social media bill revamp snatches minister's powersAlgorithm-less feeds could soon be a possibility for online users as the minister behind the reforms lessens her own powers for a digital duty of care.The West Australian · 14 Oct, 17:34
• Social media bill revamp snatches minister's powersAlgorithm-less feeds could soon be a possibility for online users as the minister behind the reforms lessens her own powers for a digital duty of care.Perth Now · 14 Oct, 17:34

In this story: Anika Wells · Australia · Parliament

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