Digital Duty of Care Proposed for Big Tech to Address Algorithmic Harms
UKPulse News Desk
A private member's bill, modelled on UK and EU legislation, was tabled in federal parliament in 2024, proposing a digital duty of care for big tech companies.
- A private member's digital duty of care bill was tabled in federal parliament in 2024.
- The proposed bill included default privacy settings, user control over algorithms, and penalties of up to 10% of global turnover for non-compliance.
- The bill aimed to make platforms responsible for the safety of their digital spaces.
A private member's digital duty of care bill, modelled on UK and EU legislation, was tabled in federal parliament in 2024. The bill seeks to hold big tech companies accountable for the safety of the digital spaces they create.
The proposed legislation includes provisions for the strongest-possible default privacy settings and the ability for users to reset and switch off algorithms. It also requires detailed evidence of risk assessment and mitigation from platforms, transparency for independent researchers, and penalties of up to 10% of global turnover for non-compliance.
The core aim of the bill is to ensure platforms make their spaces safe for users, children, and communities. This approach focuses on the systems driving content rather than solely on content removal.
Why this matters: The proposal aims to address societal harms linked to addictive design features, such as eroding attention spans, increasing mental health issues, and amplifying divisive content.
What this means for you: If enacted, such legislation could lead to stronger default privacy settings and more control over algorithmic exposure on digital platforms.