Australia’s government is encountering strong pushback over its proposal to impose stricter regulations on social media algorithms. Communications Minister Anika Wells is expected to present draft legislation establishing a "digital duty of care" for social media platforms as parliament resumes. The plan would require major platforms to allow users to disable algorithms that determine what content appears in their feeds. It also aims to improve the identification of harmful or illegal content to better protect vulnerable users, such as children, from exposure to harmful stereotypes or behaviors related to body image, women’s safety, and child protection. The proposed rules would include heavy penalties—up to $100 million—for non-compliance and would grant expanded powers to the eSafety commissioner and researchers to assess platform compliance. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to advocate for the plan at the United Nations General Assembly in New York later this month. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor criticized the proposal, warning that it could be seen as an attempt to "censor" online free speech. He argued that the government should first address its current under-16s social media access restrictions, which have seen a 4.4% reduction in usage. Taylor dismissed the impact of this reduction as "immaterial" and stressed the need for parents to have greater control over what children see online. He also expressed skepticism about the legislation, cautioning against granting the communications minister too much discretion in enforcing new powers and citing concerns about the government's past biases. Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonno Duniam compared the current proposal to previously abandoned anti-misinformation laws introduced by the Labor government during its first term. He emphasized that empowering individuals and parents to control online content should be the focus, stating the Coalition would support the plan only if it does not infringe on personal rights and freedoms. He suggested that existing media classification systems could serve as a solid foundation for such regulations. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson criticized the government’s plan, warning against allowing Labor to control what Australians see online. She criticized the proposal as a move toward "Orwellian machinery" and called for a shift away from government censorship. With significant opposition from the Coalition and One Nation, any new legislation would need support from the Greens to pass through the Senate. The Greens have advocated for "opt-in" rules, similar to those proposed by campaigner Chanel Contos. This model would require users to explicitly consent to having algorithm-based content in their feeds, giving them more control over their online experience.