US Raises Censorship Concerns Over Australia’s Social Media Algorithm Reforms
Synopsis
Australia’s social media algorithm reforms face US scrutiny over potential censorship risks as the government develops broader rules governing digital platforms and online safety.
Australia's plans to overhaul the algorithms used on social media have come under fire from the US government who believe the measures could pose a threat to legitimate online expression.
The concerns are outlined in a submission from the US to Australia's consultation on draft Digital Duty of Care legislation. Their plan would see social media platforms offer users more choice regarding the recommendation of content in their feeds.
US Questions Proposed Feed Requirements
The proposed changes to the social media algorithm would give users the choice of their default feed, aged over 16. They can choose to go down the route of personalised recommendations, or they can choose the feed of posts from accounts that they follow.
Concerns have been raised by the US about the impact of such requirements which could alter the ways that such feeds are designed and operated. Furthermore, the US contested the definitions of the following terms used in the proposed rules: harm and risk.
Ambiguous requirements could prompt platforms to limit or avoid altogether the carriage of lawful material, to avoid the risk of penalty, said Washington. But it also warned that if companies applied such changes in overseas markets, then Australia's rules which impact on the systems of platforms could have a wider-reaching impact.
The government's proposed framework aims to empower consumers with more choices over the online services they use, and will also force services to 'take reasonable precautions against foreseeable risks.'
Digital Duty of Care is getting new rules
The reforms to the social media algorithm are part of a broader Digital Duty of Care proposal which was announced on 8th September. The framework will be applicable to social media services, as well as other digital products such as gaming, messaging services and chatbots.
Breaches will be punishable by up to A$109.2 million, and the eSafety Commissioner will be the one to oversee breaches.
The proposals mirror minimum age guidelines for social media which comes into force from 10th December 2025. Around 4.7 million under-16 users' accounts had been removed or restricted by platforms by mid-December, eSafety reported.
Facebook and Instagram's parent company, Meta is expected to make US$200.97 billion in revenues in 2025, a 22% increase from the previous year's figure of US$164.50 billion. Its Family of Apps hit US$198.76 billion during 2025.
Australia is still consulting on the proposal legislation ahead of its introduction in Parliament.
Source: Reuters
Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
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