Australia’s proposed ‘opt out’ law targets Big Tech algorithms

What the report says

Australia is preparing new legislation this week that would require social media companies to give users a way to switch off recommended algorithms, according to reporting from Al Jazeera based on comments from Communications Minister Anika Wells. The proposal is aimed at platforms such as Meta and is presented by the government as part of a broader “digital duty of care” for online services.

Wells said the plan is intended to give Australians more control over what appears in their feeds, rather than leaving that choice entirely to Big Tech firms. The government argues that many users value algorithm-driven recommendations, but should be able to opt out if they prefer. The draft law has not yet been released, and the opposition has already signaled concern: Coalition leader Angus Taylor said he had not seen the bill and warned it could amount to censorship, while noting that his party has not reviewed the details.

The article places the move in the context of long-running criticism of social media algorithms, which regulators and campaigners say can promote addictive use and push sensational or extreme content to keep people engaged. Al Jazeera also notes that Australia introduced a separate ban on social media use for under-16s in December 2025, part of a wider child-safety push that other countries, including the UK and France, have since echoed. That backdrop helps explain why algorithm controls are now becoming a policy focus.