Australia proposes law on social media algorithm choice

The Australian government is preparing to introduce landmark legislation this week that would compel major social media companies to offer users the ability to disable personalized recommendation algorithms. The draft laws aim to give Australians greater control over their online feeds and are part of a broader initiative to establish a "digital duty of care" for technology platforms operating in the country. Communications Minister Anika Wells stated that platforms such as Meta could be required to provide clear mechanisms for users to switch off engagement-driven algorithms that curate content based on personal data. While acknowledging that many users value algorithmic curation for entertainment or utility, the government emphasizes that companies should offer a transparent choice. "A lot of Australians appreciate the algorithm, both for the enjoyment they get out of it or the utility they get out of it," Wells told national broadcaster ABC. "A lot of Australians will want to choose the algorithm, but we think that Big Tech should offer them the choice in the first place, and they should respect that choice.