Australian PM seeks big tech backing for internet safety, AI rules

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is seeking support from major technology companies for his country's proposed child online safety laws and greater regulation of artificial intelligence, following a meeting with former Apple CEO Tim Cook in California. Albanese acknowledged that protecting children from internet dangers is a global challenge and emphasized that Australia cannot tackle this issue alone.

He announced that the nation will introduce new standards for AI by the end of the year, citing safety concerns about AI systems potentially operating beyond human control. The meeting with Cook also highlighted the tech giant's commitment to providing robust controls to safeguard Australian children online. Australia's legislation, which restricts children under 16 from accessing social media platforms, was implemented last year as part of a landmark initiative to safeguard young users from online bullying and manipulative algorithms.

The government recently unveiled draft legislation that would impose a duty of care on major social media companies and give users the option to deactivate algorithms if they choose to do so. Despite the ban, data revealed that under-16s in Australia are still increasing their usage of social media apps like Instagram and TikTok.

Albanese, who is currently in the United States for the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, has been advocating for stronger AI regulations following warnings from industry leaders about the potential risks of unchecked AI development.