The Prime Minister predicted a backlash over the scheme, which would cover social media, search engines and artificial intelligence chatbots, while the Opposition said it could allow the Government to censor your feed. But campaigners such as Chanel Contos have welcomed the reform, while the Greens say it needs to be tougher and an end to doom altogether. What will change in my feed? If the proposal becomes law, app users will be sent a notification or “pop-up” giving them a choice of what they want to include in their main feed. Communications Minister Anika Wells framed it as a choice between the algorithm or its friends and the content creators they choose to follow. Users who choose the first option will still be able to use their platforms in the same way as they do now. According to Wells, they will be able to change their minds and exchange options as often as they want. Instagram, YouTube and X are among the platforms that already have a tab that users can click on to see only content from people they follow. It’s unclear how this would work with the proposed laws. The government has previously acknowledged that tech platforms could respond by creating an algorithm-free channel that complies with the new rules but is less functional for its users. What is prohibited? Some content would also be removed from channels, according to the bill released Tuesday. Digital services will face a new duty of care requiring them to provide a “safe online environment”. This means protecting children from “harmful” content and adults from “seriously harmful” content. For children, this includes content depicting pornography, violence or bullying, promotion of eating disorders, hostility towards women or gender equality, and crimes or dangerous stunts. For adults, content may be removed if it promotes terrorism, sexual assault, extreme violence, self-harm or suicide, animal cruelty, crime, illegal drug use, or the sexual exploitation, abuse or neglect of children. Harassment and explicit threats of physical violence are also prohibited. Wells said the harm identified was “simply illegal content.” Some features will be classified as having a “negative behavioral impact”: infinite scrolling; displaying views, likes and engagement; time-limited content such as Snapchat and Instagram stories; and personalized content feeds. Social media platforms will be required to disable these features for those under 16 years of age. Platforms will have to conduct annual risk assessments of their platforms and manage identified risks. The eSafety Commissioner may require platforms to remove certain content, including nude apps, websites or links containing information about cyberbullying. They will be able to decide what constitutes harassment, Wells said. The Minister has the power to classify other types of material or behavior as harm that platforms must address. The coalition said the minister’s power to classify new forms of harm could allow the government to clamp down on the expression of views with which it disagrees. Wells said misinformation and political commentary would not be prosecuted and suggested the Senate would have the power to reject a ministerial appointment. She said the rules would have allowed her to ban the image generator Grok after it was used to create nude photos of people with their consent. Australia’s Digital Duty of Care Act is a ‘global reckoning with Big Tech’, says minister – video How are tech companies responding to this? Digital platforms affected by the new rules could face fines of more than $100 million for violating the rules. Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, declined to comment Tuesday. Google didn’t respond. Industry body Digi said it supports the principle of digital responsibility, but definitions of harmful content and the impact of user experience will be critical. A Digi spokesperson said they recognize community concerns about personalized app content systems, but these systems make services more relevant and useful. “We support an approach that gives people meaningful choice and control over the content they see while managing security risks,” they said. The Prime Minister said on Tuesday: “Of course there will be opponents because this is about changing the balance of power. We are taking power away from the world’s big tech companies and handing it over to ordinary Australians.” Will anything else change? The Greens are calling for things to go further, including an end to endless scrolling, protecting adult users from all harmful material rather than just “serious” harm, and tougher penalties imposed on tech companies. Sarah Hanson-Young, the Greens’ communications spokeswoman, said fines should be tied to a company’s share of global revenue to ensure breaking the law would harm their business. She said they would negotiate “the toughest provisions that can stop the disaster.” “They have a lot of money, and we know that the big tech companies will look for every crack, every possible workaround, so we need to tighten things up,” Hanson-Young said. The Greens also demanded a “strong opt-in” model allowing users to choose their feed, making friends and followers the default mode, while allowing Australians to revert to an algorithmic feed if they wish. The government has said it prefers not to have default settings, instead giving users a choice. The government will have to negotiate with a minor party if the coalition refuses to support the legislation. Post navigation Apple Arcade will add Terraria+ and four more games in October When is the draw for the fourth round of the League Cup?