Labor government proposes social media algorithm choice under new digital duty of care

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Taking power away from big tech companies and putting it back into the hands of Australians. That is how the Prime Minister is describing new laws, to give social media users more control over what they see in their feeds. The aim is to improve online safety, but critics say it is an attack on free speech.

Transcript

00:02Shifting the balance of power, the Prime Minister's out to tame big tech.

00:07We're taking power from big global tech companies and giving it to ordinary Australians.

00:13Unveiling a digital duty of care spurred on by parents whose children have fallen victim to the dark side of

00:20social media.

00:21As one of the parents of lost children, we're so incredibly proud about today being Australian.

00:28As each week passes, we lose our Australian children, just like I lost my son, Mac.

00:36Labor planning to give users the power to opt in or out of the algorithms controlling their feeds.

00:42My feed, my way.

00:45And make tech companies responsible for keeping their platforms safe, restricting illegal content for adults and harmful content for under

00:5318s.

00:54Posts that promote eating disorders, misogyny, pornography, glorify crime or cause serious distress including bullying.

01:02This is about basic safety standards online.

01:06The Greens think the changes don't go far enough.

01:09We want to end the doomscrop.

01:10It's not about censorship, it's about giving people control.

01:14The digital duty of care building on the teen social media ban, breaching either to carry a fine of more

01:21than $100 million.

01:23I've had a gut full of big tech. I tell you what, it's about time we put a leash around

01:27it.

01:27The Prime Minister will highlight this policy at the UN General Assembly later this month.

01:32Determined to position Australia as a global leader when it comes to online safety,

01:36today he dismissed concerns about a potential backlash from tech giants close to the Trump administration.

01:43There is a global reckoning coming for big tech.

01:46And it started here in Australia.

01:48The Prime Minister is a global leader in Australia.

01:49The Prime Minister of the United States.

01:50The Prime Minister of the United States.

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