A Digital Duty of Care is long overdue
8 September 2026
For too long, the burden of keeping people safe online has fallen on individuals, while the platforms that design and profit from these systems have operated with too little accountability.
Today’s announcement by the Albanese Government of a Digital Duty of Care is an important step forward - and one I have been strongly calling for.
Early reports suggest that, under the proposed changes, users can choose to turn off content in their feed recommended by the algorithm.
This progress is welcome. The evidence overwhelmingly shows these recommendation systems drive people towards harmful content, fuel addictive behaviours and contribute to serious harms to mental health and wellbeing, especially for young people.
I will examine the exposure draft in detail, with a focus on ensuring the final legislation delivers meaningful safety, accountability and user choice.
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