Australia seeks global coalition to counter social media giants amid increased child harms: What we know
Australia is seeking a global coalition to push tech giants to reduce online harm, especially to children. Its proposed Digital Duty of Care bill would require built-in safeguards, give users control over recommended content and impose fines.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government announced plans to form a global coalition to pressure social media companies to protect children from online harm. Communications Minister Anika Wells stated that countries like Malaysia, the Philippines, New Zealand, Canada, Sweden, the UK, and others are expected to join the initiative.
The proposed legislation, called the Digital Duty of Care, would compel digital services to build safety features into their products from the outset. If the plan gains international support, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat could face stricter regulations. The legislation also aims to allow users to disable algorithmic content recommendations, potentially impacting the business models of tech giants.
However, the proposal has faced criticism from the President's administration, which warned it could be extended to other countries.
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