Australia proposes user controls over social media recommendation feeds
Australia has proposed new rules that would require social media platforms to give users more control over algorithmically recommended content and to document measures taken to reduce online harms.
Australia has proposed legislation that would give social media users greater control over how content is selected and displayed in their feeds, reports Reuters.
Under the draft rules, platforms would have to notify users about their feed settings and offer a choice between receiving personalised content recommended by algorithms or seeing posts only from accounts and creators they have chosen to follow. The measure would allow users to switch off algorithmic recommendations rather than relying entirely on platforms’ default systems.
The government also plans to require platforms to document how they address identified risks of harm to Australian users and demonstrate that those measures remain effective. Non-compliance could result in penalties of up to A$109.2 million, with the eSafety Commissioner responsible for enforcement.
The proposal follows growing scrutiny of recommendation systems, which can repeatedly promote similar content and contribute to prolonged use of social media. Australia’s approach follows the European Union’s Digital Services Act, which requires platforms to provide users with an option to opt out of profiling, although European regulators have raised concerns about how easily users can exercise that choice.
The government plans to consult digital platforms, industry groups, civil society organisations and other advocates before introducing the bill to Parliament later this year.
