The U.S. government formally criticized Australia’s proposed digital duty of care legislation. The law includes provisions allowing social media users to opt out of algorithmically curated feeds.
The U.S. Embassy in Canberra expressed serious concerns that the law empowers the Australian government to enforce vague definitions of harmful content. Washington warns these measures could lead to censorship and over-moderation of protected speech.
U.S. officials argued that mandating chronological feeds would disproportionately impact American companies. They noted the design changes could affect global user experiences beyond Australia.
Washington requested that Australia withdraw plans to mandate algorithmic suppression. The Australian initiative, My Feed, My Way, aims to increase user control and curb harmful online content.