Australia proposes law letting users switch off social media algorithms

September 7, 2026 at 08:40 AM2 min

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Australia will introduce draft legislation this week requiring social media companies to offer users the option to switch off content algorithms. Communications Minister Anika Wells said tech firms that fail to provide the choice would face substantial penalties. The proposal draws criticism from opposition leader Angus Taylor, who called it a potential censorship attempt.

Key Facts

The draft legislation will be introduced this week, according to Communications Minister Anika Wells.
Tech firms such as Meta, Google and TikTok would face 'substantial' penalties if they do not offer the option to turn off algorithms.
Opposition leader Angus Taylor said he was 'highly sceptical' and argued the move could amount to censorship.
The government will take expert advice on whether users would have to opt in or opt out of algorithmic feeds.
No tech firm has been fined for failing to enforce the under-16 social media ban introduced last December.

Proposed Legislation

Communications Minister Anika Wells announced the digital duty of care laws would ensure basic safety protections for an industry that has not had to observe them. The legislation would require social media companies to offer users the option to switch off algorithms that feed them content. Wells said the government wants to give Australians more choice over what they see on their social media feeds. The government will take expert advice on whether users would have to opt in or opt out of algorithmic feeds.

Political Reaction

Liberal Party leader Angus Taylor said he was 'highly sceptical' and argued the move could amount to censorship. Taylor told News24 he feared this was an attempt by the government to censor social media and that Labor should first plug holes in the social media ban. Wells told Channel Nine's Today show the proposal is not about censorship but about making big tech identify and mitigate risks on their platforms.

Enforcement Record

Wells admitted that no tech firm has been fined for not enforcing the social media ban for under-16s. Research consistently shows the vast majority of under-16s who were on platforms before the ban introduced last December still use them. High-profile consent advocate Chanel Contos last week called for an opt-in for algorithmic feeds, arguing algorithms fuel sexual violence and expose young people to misogynistic material.