Australia regulator rejects warning of internet safety bill chilling free speech

Sydney, November 10 - Australia's internet regulator has dismissed concerns from technology companies that a proposed online safety law would result in excessive censorship. The Digital Duty of Care legislation would require internet firms to proactively detect and prevent potential user harms, or face substantial fines. Tech giants, including Meta, TikTok, and Snap, have expressed worries that the law grants regulators too much latitude in determining what content is harmful.

However, the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, maintains that there is no evidence companies are over-censoring. She argues that the legislation's broad scope is necessary to establish a comprehensive safety framework. The government aims to pass the law by year-end, which would also allow users to opt out of algorithmically recommended content and view posts from only the accounts they select.