US criticises Australia’s proposed algorithm opt-out laws as ‘censorship’

The United States has expressed serious concerns over Australia's proposed digital duty of care laws, claiming it amounts to "censorship of protected speech". Under the draft laws, tech firms risk large fines if they fail to provide users with the option to turn off algorithms, in an effort to shield them from harmful content. The US embassy in Canberra stated that allowing the government to enforce vague definitions of "harm" could lead to "viewpoint-based censorship".

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese argued that the legislation aims to give control back to individuals, not governments. He called for clarification on how "harm" and "risks" will be determined, ensuring these definitions do not infringe on protected speech. However, the US expressed worries that the proposed laws could limit independent journalists or other voices dealing with sensitive or controversial topics, should tech firms have to preemptively lower their rankings.

The US also argued that mandating platform design features, particularly for algorithms, could affect what users see, say, and hear not just in Australia, but globally. Furthermore, the US urged Australia to address concerns about the potential biases of government officials that may disadvantage independent or minority viewpoints.

This criticism unfolded during Albanese's visit to the US to address his government's tech policies at the UN's General Assembly. Albanese responded to the US criticism, stating that the proposed laws are not about government control, but rather giving people control over what they receive on their devices. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump played down fears about artificial intelligence, rejecting proposals for guardrails on it and suggesting it should be renamed "super intelligence".