Communications Minister Anika Wells plans to introduce draft legislation allowing Australians to opt out of social media algorithms. The proposed laws would require tech firms like Meta, Google, and TikTok to give users the option to turn off algorithms or face "substantial" penalties. A public debate has erupted over the proposal, with some opposition members calling it censorship and others expressing support in principle. The legislation is expected to be introduced this week and will also address issues of harmful content on social media platforms.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Australian government is planning to introduce draft laws that would require social media companies to give users the option to turn off algorithms that control the content in their feeds. The proposed "digital duty of care" legislation aims to protect vulnerable users, including children, from being fed content that can be harmful or disturbing. Communications Minister Anika Wells said that tech firms such as Meta, Google, and TikTok would face substantial penalties if they do not comply with the new rules. The laws also include provisions for fines of up to $100 million for breaches. This move has been met with criticism from opposition leader Angus Taylor, who expressed concerns about censorship. Meanwhile, the government is facing pressure to address concerns about its existing social media ban for under-16s, which research shows is still not being enforced effectively.
Written for “Australia Social Media Laws” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 5 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning score withheld for article 6611: score contradicts its own evidence · logged 2026-09-07
- Published
Australians would be able to switch off social media algorithms under draft legislation to be proposed this week.
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Australians → publish → legislation
Communications Minister Anika Wells, who last year helmed the government's world-first social media ban for under-16s, said the digital duty of care laws would ensure "some basic safety protections on an industry that hasn't had to observe it".
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that → helm → it
If tech firms such as Meta, Google and TikTok did not give the option to turn off algorithms, they should face "substantial" penalties, she said.
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she → give → penalties
Some members of the opposition have criticised the proposal, with Liberal Party leader Angus Taylor saying he was "highly sceptical" and arguing the move could amount to censorship.
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move → criticise → censorship
The government will be taking "expert advice" on whether users would have to opt in or out of the algorithms feeding them content online, Wells said.
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Wells → take → content
This means that, as with its social media ban, the government is looking to bring in legislation before fully hammering out the specifics of how it would work.
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it → mean → specifics
"We want to give Australians more choice over what they see on their social media feeds," Wells told the ABC on Monday.
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Wells → want → Monday
"We know that a lot of Australians appreciate the algorithm both for the enjoyment they get out of it or the utility that they get out of it, seeing local businesses in their suburb.
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they → know → suburb
"A lot of Australians will want to choose the algorithm.
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lot → want → algorithm
But we think that big tech should offer them the choice in the first place and they should respect that choice.
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they → think → choice
"Big tech is not a protected species and they should offer their customers basic safety standards.
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they → protect → standards
"
But she admitted that so far no tech firm had been fined for not enforcing the social media ban, despite research consistently showing that the vast majority of under 16s who were on platforms before the ban was introduced last December, still use them.
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ban → admit → them
Some members of the opposition have said they support the idea in principle, but others argue it is an attempt to curtail freedom of speech.
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it → say → speech
Taylor told News24 he feared this was "an attempt by the government to censor social media" and that Labor should first try to plug holes in the social media ban.
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Labor → tell → ban
Speaking to Channel Nine's Today show, Wells said: "This isn't about censorship.
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This → speak → censorship
This is about identifying risks or making big tech identify the risks on their own platform and making big tech mitigate against those risks on their platform.
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tech → identify → platform
Last week, high-profile consent advocate Chanel Contos gave a speech at Australia's National Press Club calling on the government to seek an opt-in for algorithmic social media feeds, making it harder for tech firms to find a way round any reforms.
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firms → give → reforms
She argued algorithms were fuelling the prevalence of sexual violence in Australia and exposing young people to misogynistic "manosphere" material.
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algorithms → argue → material
The draft legislation is expected to be introduced in the coming days.
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legislation → expect → days
As well as addressing algorithms, it is also expected to put an onus on platforms to stop harmful content, such as illegal pornography and videos promoting disordered eating, from being shared.
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it → address → eating
