The Australian government has unveiled a new initiative aimed at mandating social media companies to take proactive measures for user safety.
On November 14, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland announced plans to implement Digital Duty of Care regulations, which would require tech companies to consistently monitor their platforms for potential risks and actively prevent foreseeable harm.
Rowland emphasized the need to transition from merely responding to issues through content regulation to adopting a proactive, systems-based prevention strategy. She stated that this initiative is part of a broader global movement to create safer online environments.
The proposed regulations would empower regulators to impose significant penalties on platforms that fail to adequately uphold their duty of care to Australian users. This duty of care was recommended in an independent review of the Online Safety Act, which was submitted to the government in October but remains unpublished.
Additionally, this Digital Duty of Care initiative will complement the government’s unprecedented plan to prohibit minors under 16 from using social media. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that legislation to enforce this age restriction will be presented to Parliament in November, placing the responsibility of compliance on social media companies rather than on parents, guardians, or children.