Australia’s centre‑left Labor government is moving to give social‑media users a clear choice over the content that appears in their feeds. Under the draft “My Feed, My Way” legislation, platforms such as Meta’s Facebook and Instagram and Google‑owned YouTube would have to notify users and let them decide whether to receive algorithm‑driven recommendations or see only posts from accounts they follow.
Government rationale
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the proposal “sensible, pragmatic, practical reform” that puts control back in the hands of Australians. He said the measure would hold big‑tech companies accountable for any failure to comply with the new rules.
How the choice works
Users could opt in to a default feed that includes personalised, algorithm‑suggested content, or opt out and view a feed limited to posts from friends and creators they have explicitly followed. The draft law also requires platforms to document steps taken to mitigate identified risks of harm to users and to keep those safeguards effective over time.
Enforcement and penalties
Australia’s eSafety regulator would oversee compliance, with the power to issue notices to remove harmful, nudity‑related, or illegal material quickly. Companies that fail to meet the requirements could face fines of up to A$109.2 million (about $79 million).
International context
The move follows the European Union’s Digital Services Act, which since 2024 has required platforms to offer an opt‑out of profiling. Regulators in the EU have complained that the rollout has been uneven, with many services making it difficult for users to switch off algorithmic recommendations.
Critics warn of censorship
Free‑speech advocates have expressed concern that the legislation could be used to censor online content. Albanese countered, “It’s not about giving government control. It’s about giving people control,” emphasizing the focus on user choice rather than state oversight.
The government will seek feedback from digital platforms, industry groups, civil‑society organisations and other stakeholders before introducing the bill to Parliament later this year.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
