Australia has unveiled draft "My Feed, My Way" legislation establishing a "Digital Duty of Care" for tech giants. The proposed law allows social media users over 16 to opt out of algorithmic feeds in favor of chronological updates from accounts they choose to follow. Backed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the bill also mandates protections for minors against addictive designs and harmful content, threatening non-compliant platforms with fines of up to A$109.2 million ($78.6 million USD).
Algorithm opt-out controls
- ▪The proposed Australian legislation mandates that opting out of algorithmic recommendations must not result in degraded platform functionality, hidden menus, or intentional user friction.
- ▪The Australian government announced draft "My Feed, My Way" legislation on September 8, 2026, allowing social media users over the age of 16 to opt out of algorithmic recommendation feeds.
- ▪Under the proposed Australian law, social media platforms must notify users of their feed options, allowing them to choose between personalized algorithmic recommendations or a feed of accounts they actively follow.
Digital Duty of Care
- ▪The Digital Duty of Care legislation requires digital service providers to protect users under the age of 18 from addictive design features like infinite scrolling and autoplay.
- ▪The Digital Duty of Care framework empowers Australia's independent eSafety Commissioner to issue swift removal notices against malicious platforms, including non-consensual deepfake image websites.
- ▪The Australian Federal Government's draft legislation establishes a comprehensive "Digital Duty of Care" placing legally binding responsibilities on tech companies to shield users from predatory design features.
Child protection content restrictions
- ▪The proposed Australian legislation requires platforms to protect children from content promoting eating disorders, hostile ideas about women, pornography, crime, dangerous stunts, and serious mental health distress.
- ▪The proposed Australian laws target recommendation pathways that expose minors to body image distortions, extreme fitness culture, misogynistic rhetoric, and online radicalization.
Political opposition concerns
- ▪The Australian Greens communications spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young argued that the proposed laws should make non-algorithmic feeds the default out-of-the-box setting rather than an opt-out choice.
- ▪Australian Opposition Leader Angus Taylor and Nationals leader Matt Canavan expressed skepticism over the bill, warning that the proposed regulations could lead to government censorship and state control over online information.
Debatable claims
- ▪Social media platforms should make non-algorithmic feeds the default setting
- ▪Australia should legally force social media platforms to offer an algorithm opt-out
- ▪Australia's proposed social media algorithm regulations risk government censorship
Story comments
Loading comments…