Australia said on September 8 it would introduce legislation this year requiring social media platforms to let users over 16 choose whether to use an algorithmic feed, as part of a wider effort to tighten online safety rules.

Platforms would have to notify new and existing users so they could choose a default feed. Companies that breached the rules could face fines of up to A$109.2 million (US$78.8 million).

The proposed law would also require AI chatbots, online games, and other digital services to take steps to protect users under 18 from addictive design features.

Similar controls are also emerging elsewhere. The European Union’s Digital Services Act covers recommender systems, including rules on user choice and transparency.

Some platforms already offer non-algorithmic options, including Facebook’s reverse-chronological Feeds tab.

Australia’s eSafety regulator has also warned that AI chatbots and AI companions pose risks to children. New industry codes seek to address harmful chatbot interactions with minors.

🔗 Source: CNBC