Australia’s Labor Plans Digital Duty of Care for Social Media, Faces Opposition

Labor’s communications minister, Anika Wells, is set to unveil draft legislation this week that would impose a digital duty of care on social media platforms operating in Australia. The bill seeks to regulate algorithmic practices and enhance user safety, signalling a shift toward greater platform accountability. Opposition leader Angus Taylor has warned that the measure risks censoring free speech and labels it an attempt to control the internet. The draft will be debated in federal parliament, where it could be amended or rejected. If passed, the law would require platforms to disclose how algorithms influence content visibility and to take steps to protect users from harmful material.