CANBERRA: Australians could soon be given the option to turn off social media algorithms under new legislation the government plans to introduce this week.
Communications Minister Anika Wells, who previously led Australia’s world-first social media restrictions for children under 16, said the proposed digital duty of care laws would establish basic safety standards for major technology companies.
Under the proposed rules, platforms including Meta, Google and TikTok could be required to give users the ability to switch off algorithms that determine what content appears in their feeds. Companies that fail to provide the option could face substantial penalties, Wells said.
Wells said the legislation is intended to give Australians greater control over the content they see online.
“We want to give Australians more choice over what they see on their social media feeds,” she told the ABC.
She acknowledged that many Australians enjoy algorithmically selected content and find it useful, including for discovering local businesses and services.
However, the government believes users should have the ability to decide whether they want algorithms to personalise their feeds.
Wells said major technology companies should meet basic safety standards and respect users’ choices.
The proposed legislation could have significant implications for some of the world’s biggest technology companies.
Platforms such as Meta, Google and TikTok rely heavily on recommendation algorithms to determine which posts, videos and other content users see.
The government is still considering whether Australians would have to opt in or opt out of algorithm-driven feeds. Wells said officials would seek expert advice before finalising that part of the policy.
The approach means the government could introduce the broader legal framework before every technical detail of implementation has been settled.
The proposal has attracted criticism from some opposition politicians.
Liberal Party leader Angus Taylor said he was “highly sceptical” of the plan and warned that it could become an attempt to restrict freedom of speech.
Taylor also argued that the government should focus on addressing weaknesses in Australia’s existing social media restrictions for under-16s before introducing additional regulations.
However, Wells rejected the censorship criticism.
“This isn’t about censorship,” she said, arguing that the policy would require technology companies to identify risks on their own platforms and take steps to reduce them.
The proposed algorithm legislation comes as the government faces questions about enforcement of its existing social media ban for under-16s.
Wells acknowledged that no technology company has so far been fined for failing to enforce the restrictions.
Research has also indicated that many under-16s who were already using social media before the ban came into effect in December continue to use the platforms.
The issue could increase pressure on the government to demonstrate that its digital safety policies are effective before expanding regulation.
The government is also facing calls to introduce a stricter opt-in system for algorithmic social media feeds.
Consent advocate Chanel Contos recently addressed Australia’s National Press Club, urging the government to require users to actively choose algorithm-driven feeds.
Contos argued that recommendation systems can contribute to the spread of harmful content, including misogynistic material associated with online “manosphere” communities.
She also linked algorithmic exposure to broader concerns about sexual violence and the impact of online content on young people.
The government is expected to continue consulting experts as it develops the proposed digital duty of care framework. The final rules could determine how much control Australians have over the algorithms shaping their social media experience.
