Australia unveils draft law to let users switch off social media algorithms

Australia has released draft legislation that would force social media platforms to let users opt out of algorithm-driven feeds, as part of a broader Digital Duty of Care framework.

Under the proposed "My Feed, My Way" model, platforms would be required to prompt new and existing users to choose between a personalised, algorithmically recommended feed or a chronological one showing only content from accounts they actively follow. Communications Minister Anika Wells said users should have the right to decide whether they receive personalised feeds, and that platforms must respect that choice.

The bill also expands platforms' obligations to identify and act on harmful and illegal content, with a particular focus on protecting minors from design features linked to addictive use and self-esteem harms. Non-compliance could draw penalties exceeding A$109 million (approximately $78.6 million).

The move builds on Australia's increasingly aggressive stance on platform regulation, following its under-16 social media ban introduced in December 2025. The opposition has voiced scepticism, with Coalition MP Angus Taylor calling it a potential overreach into content moderation. The Australian Greens, meanwhile, have pushed for a stricter opt-in model rather than opt-out.

The draft has been released for targeted consultation with platforms, industry bodies and civil society groups, with the government aiming to table the bill in Parliament later this year.

For India, where the amended IT Rules 2026 have focused chiefly on faster takedowns, AI-content labelling and platform liability, Australia's move signals a different regulatory lever gaining ground globally, giving users direct control over algorithmic feeds rather than only policing content after the fact. 

With India's own social media regulation still evolving and algorithmic transparency yet to feature prominently in its policy conversation, the Australian model could become a reference point as Indian regulators and industry bodies weigh next steps on platform accountability.