Proposed laws would let you opt out of social media algorithms. An expert explains
There have long been calls for digital duty of care laws in Australia – since well before the under-16s social media ban. But enforcement may be tricky.
New draft legislation from the Australian government would allow users to opt out of social media recommender algorithms and hold platforms accountable for the risks their products pose. The digital duty of care plan is separate from the government's proposed Online Safety Amendment Bill, which aims to strengthen enforcement around the under-16 social media ban.
The proposed laws would enable users to switch off recommender algorithms via pop-up messages, with companies expected to identify and manage risks on their platforms, including harmful content. However, the devil is in the detail, as the full plans won't be released for a week. While digital duty of care laws have been long overdue, the onus should be on platforms and other online entities to thoroughly test the risks of their products before releasing features.
It remains unclear how parents will manage opting out and the impact on users who may stick with algorithmic content. The fines proposed are a fraction of the annual revenue of tech companies, suggesting a more proportional approach would be preferable. The government's approach to transparency regarding compliance and the involvement of the eSafety Commissioner and researchers in evaluating companies' efforts to meet these laws is promising.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
