Censorship fear forces Labor to mull digital law change

Labor has indicated a willingness to reconsider its proposed digital duty of care laws as they face opposition from the coalition. The bill aims to require social media companies to identify and prevent potentially harmful content for users under 18. The prohibited material includes content that encourages disordered eating, pornography, violence against women, bullying, and life-endangering stunts.

However, the opposition argues that ministerial discretion to designate harmful content could lead to political censorship online.

Communications Minister Anika Wells expressed surprise at the opposition's reaction, stating that she is willing to work with the coalition to modify the wording of the laws, ensuring they meet the urgency of the intended measure. She added that she has not received any calls or proposed amendments from her opposition counterpart, Sarah Henderson.

Wells emphasized that the laws would primarily target adult users, requiring the monitoring and removal of illegal content, as well as posts promoting terrorism, child exploitation, and sexual violence. Users would also have the choice to revert to linear feeds with content from their friends and other accounts they follow or continue with algorithm-driven feeds.

Australia recently passed laws to strengthen the under-16s social media ban, allowing the eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant to compel access to information for investigating social media use by children. Tech companies face a maximum fine of $100 million for non-compliance. Despite children reportedly being able to easily bypass age-verification measures, no platforms have been penalized for breaches of these laws to date.