Australia plans legislation to let social media users opt out of algorithms; platforms must notify users of feed choice

The Guardian

Australia plans digital duty of care letting social media users choose between algorithm feed or followed friends; Albanese says doom scrolling is fine if that's their choice

The Australian government's planned digital duty of care legislation could allow social media users to choose between the current algorithm-driven feed or a feed of only followed friends and groups, as announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday.

TL;DR by CuriousCats.ai

The Australian government's planned digital duty of care legislation could allow social media users to choose between the current algorithm-driven feed or a feed of only followed friends and groups, as announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday.
Albanese emphasized user choice, stating that if people want to doom scroll, that's up to them, but the legislation would provide an opportunity for change.
Instagram plans to promote its algorithm through an “Algo Confessions” series in Australia, featuring celebrities and influencers explaining why its recommendations are beneficial.
The potential impact of opt-out features is illustrated by Apple's 2021 ad tracking opt-in, which cost Meta $10bn in one quarter as users rushed to opt out on Facebook and Instagram.
In Europe, Meta introduced a no-algorithm feed in 2023 to comply with EU law, but by 2025 a Dutch court ordered the company to provide a direct and simple opt-out from the timeline.
User uptake of safety features can be low, as seen with Meta's teen safety feature Take a Break, which had a take-up rate of only 1.8%.

theguardian.com

Australia plans legislation to let social media users opt out of algorithms, with fines over A$100m for non-compliance; minister warns of 'global reckoning for big tech'

Australia will allow social media account holders to opt out of powerful algorithms, with users over 16 given tools to turn off algorithm-driven content and platforms facing fines of more than A$100m for non-compliance.

TL;DR by CuriousCats.ai

Australia will allow social media account holders to opt out of the powerful algorithms pushing dangerous and divisive content into users’ feeds, part of new laws designed to boost online safety.
Users over 16 years of age will be given new tools to turn off algorithm-driven content, with platforms facing fines of more than A$100m for non-compliance.
Under the plan – dubbed “my feed, my way” – users opting out of the algorithm will see content only from individuals and groups they have actively chosen to follow.
New laws designed to provide a digital duty of care for social media users under 18 will also require services such as online games, apps and AI chatbots to protect children from specific harms.
Australia’s regulator, known as the eSafety commissioner, will have the power to issue removal notices to social media companies, with platform operators required to document measures taken to address online harms.
The communications minister, Anika Wells, said tech companies had for too long been allowed to run real-time, unregulated product testing on Australian users, stating that “there is a global reckoning coming for big tech”.

Australia proposes digital duty of care bill; Albanese pledges 'global reckoning' for big tech with curbs on eating disorder and misogynistic content

The Guardian

Australia proposes digital duty of care bill; Albanese pledges 'global reckoning' for big tech with curbs on eating disorder and misogynistic content

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a digital duty of care bill that will require tech platforms to protect children from harmful content, including eating disorders, misogynistic content, pornography, and content that glorifies crime.

TL;DR by CuriousCats.ai

The Australian government has proposed a digital duty of care bill that will require tech platforms to protect children from harmful content, including content that promotes eating disorders and misogynistic content.
The bill mandates that platforms provide user empowerment tools for individuals over the age of 16, allowing them genuine choice about what they see in their feeds.
The e-safety commissioner will be granted the authority to issue removal notices for nudify apps and websites, and will streamline child cyberbullying and adult cyber abuse schemes.
Prime Minister Albanese criticized tech companies for conducting real time, unregulated product testing on Australians, stating, This is a global reckoning coming for big tech.
The six serious harms that will be regulated for Australian children include promotion of eating disorders, misogynistic content, pornography, content glorifying crime, and content causing serious distress such as abuse and cyberbullying.
For Australian adults, the regulation will only apply to illegal content, with the government ruling out censorship and placing the responsibility on big tech to identify and mitigate risks on their platforms.

Australia to set out world-first digital duty of care bill letting users opt out of Big Tech algorithms; breaches face fines of $72m

The Independent

Australia to set out world-first digital duty of care bill letting users opt out of Big Tech algorithms; breaches face fines of $72m

The digital duty of care legislation, expected in the Australian parliament this week, would require platforms like X and Meta to let users opt out of personalized algorithms via pop-up messages.

TL;DR by CuriousCats.ai

The digital duty of care legislation, expected to be introduced in the Australian parliament this week, would require platforms like X and Meta to give users in Australia the option to turn off algorithms that fine-tune content recommendations.
Under the new plan, breaches of the law would lead to platforms attracting fines of around $72m (A$100m).
Opposition leader Angus Taylor expressed scepticism, fearing the government may attempt to censor social media, and said he wants parents to have more control over what their kids see.
Independent research found that even after Australia’s world-first laws banned under-16s from accessing social media platforms in December, a majority of children still accessed their accounts as of July.
The Anthony Albanese government is considering opt-out options that would let users make their social media feeds show content only from those they follow.
Under the newly proposed rules, users can opt out via pop-up messages, and companies would be expected to identify and manage risks on their platforms.

Australia to require social media platforms to offer users an opt-out from algorithms under planned digital duty of care laws; Wells says 'Big Tech should offer them the choice'

aljazeera.com

Australia to require social media platforms to offer users an opt-out from algorithms under planned digital duty of care laws; Wells says 'Big Tech should offer them the choice'

Social media platforms could be forced to give users in Australia an option to turn off “powerful” algorithms under draft laws to be unveiled by the government this week, Communications Minister Anika Wells told the ABC national broadcaster.

TL;DR by CuriousCats.ai

Australia's government plans to unveil draft legislation this week that will require social media platforms to offer users an option to turn off algorithms, according to Communications Minister Anika Wells.
The proposed legislation is part of a digital duty of care framework aimed at tackling online harm, which includes significant penalties for companies that fail to comply.
Anika Wells stated that while many Australians appreciate algorithms for their utility, it is essential that Big Tech offers users the choice to opt out.
Wells defended the legislation against claims of censorship, emphasizing that it aims to identify and mitigate risks on social media platforms.
In December, Australia implemented a ban on social media access for users under the age of 16 to protect children from online bullying and predatory algorithms.
Chanel Contos, a high-profile consent advocate, recently called for an opt-in system for algorithmic feeds, arguing that algorithms contribute to the prevalence of sexual violence and exposure to harmful content.