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Australians Could Opt Out of Social Media Algorithms Under New Law
- On Monday, Communications Minister Anika Wells announced draft legislation requiring social media platforms to offer Australians an opt-out for powerful algorithms, with fines of up to $100m for non-compliance.
- The proposed 'digital duty of care' aims to mitigate online harm, building on a December 2025 law that banned social media for users under 16 to protect children from bullying and predatory algorithms.
- Platforms would need to issue regular pop-ups asking users to switch to chronological feeds; experts warn this could impact ad inventory, though Apple's tracking prompt saw an opt-out rate of about 27% in Australia.
- Wells stressed the legislation prioritizes user choice, stating, "We should give Australians more choice over what they should see on their feeds," while denying claims the government is attempting to censor the internet.
- Opposition leader Angus Taylor expressed skepticism about the government's motives, telling News24 on Monday he fears the legislation could become "an attempt by the government to censor social media.
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23 Articles
Australian government prepares to legislate to force digital platforms to offer the option to deactivate recommendation algorithms Australian government wants
·France
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What does a post-algorithm life looks like for advertisers?
Social media platforms may soon be required by law to allow Australians to opt out of the algorithms used to serve content into their feeds. While the laws are designed to protect users from online harm, they could also impact the effectiveness of online advertising. This algorithm requirement is one aspect of the government’s Digital […]
·Chippendale, Australia
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Total News Sources23
Leaning Left3Leaning Right7Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution44% Center
Bias Distribution
- 44% of the sources are Center
44% Center
L 17%
C 44%
R 39%
Factuality
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