Australia unveils digital duty of care bill targeting big tech platforms
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says new legislation is not about government control, as communications minister Anika Wells calls it a 'global reckoning for big tech'.
Australia has introduced a digital duty of care bill that officials say will require social media companies to allow users to opt out of algorithmic feeds and impose new obligations to protect users from harmful content, according to the source.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the legislation was not about government control, but added that technology companies could face penalties exceeding $100 million for breaches of the new rules, the source reported.
Communications Minister Anika Wells described the bill as a "global reckoning for big tech," according to the source. She said the legislation would require social media platforms to give users the ability to opt out of algorithmic feeds.
Wells said the bill would also compel platforms to take steps to protect adults from illegal content, according to the source. Additionally, the legislation outlines six serious harms from which children must be protected, though specific details of these harms were not elaborated in the source material.
The bill represents part of a broader Australian government effort to regulate technology companies and their platforms' impact on users, according to the source.
Sources
- Australia's digital duty of care bill a ‘global reckoning for big tech’, minister says – video — The Guardian — Business
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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