Author: Lisa M. Given, Professor of Information Sciences & Director, Social Change Enabling Impact Platform, RMIT University

In an escalation of its battle with big tech, the federal government has announced it plans to impose a “digital duty of care” on tech companies to reduce online harms. The announcement follows the government’s controversial plans to legislate a social media ban for young people under 16 and impose tighter rules on digital platforms such as Google, Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok to address misinformation and disinformation. In a speech last night, Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland explained why the government was planning to introduce a digital duty of care: What’s required is a shift away from reacting to…

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today announced the age limit for his government’s controversial social media ban: children under 16. He plans to take the proposal to a virtual meeting of national cabinet on Friday. The proposal would not exempt young people under 16 already on social media. No child under 16 will be permitted to use social media platforms – such as Instagram and TikTok – even with parental consent. Tech companies will be responsible for enforcing the ban. The government intends to introduce legislation to parliament by the end of the year. The ban would take effect 12 months…

In a speech to the New South Wales and South Australian government social media summit today, Federal Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland announced more details of how the federal government’s proposed social media ban would actually work. The government first announced the ban last month, shortly after SA said it will ban children under 14 from social media. But experts have heavily criticised the idea, and this week more than 120 experts from Australia and overseas wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and state and territory premiers urging a rethink. Despite this, the government appears to be…

The South Australian government is moving ahead with plans to ban children under 14 from social media. Under the proposal, teens aged 14 and 15 would also need parental consent to have social media accounts. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has flagged the consequences for social media companies that don’t comply with the new rules would be “severe and harsh”. He discussed the proposal with other state premiers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a cabinet meeting last week, and is encouraging national adoption of the proposed strategy. Malinauskas has attributed the decision to “mounting evidence” of the “adverse impact”…