Proposed digital care law to offer protection against online antisemitism

The Federal Government is positioning its new Digital Duty of Care legislation as an initiative that will help fight antisemitism.

It has gained the support of the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal, who told The Daily Telegraph that it is important for Australia to pass this legislation, in line with similar legislation in the UK and Europe.

The Digital Duty of Care Bill, which will come before parliament in October, would prevent digital services, such as games, apps and AI, from feeding harmful content to users aged under 18, including antisemitic and racist content.

Social media platforms will have to ask users whether they want a personalised, algorithm-driven feed or a chronological feed showing only accounts they actively follow, a system Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labelled “My Feed, My Way”.

While the legislation has primarily been promoted to address issues such as cyberbullying, eating disorders, and misogyny, this week the Government highlighted its value as an antisemitism-prevention strategy.

The Member for Macnamara, Josh Burns, asked in Parliament what the government is doing to protect children from harmful content online.

The question set up Communications Minister Annika Wells to talk about the dangers of social media and online platforms and promote the need for the Bill, which the Opposition is fighting.

“If the platforms have been incubators and accelerators for extremism to date, we hold grave fears that artificial intelligence could make these problems worse. Our national security organisations and law enforcement are doing everything in their power to protect Australians from the rising threat of terrorism and extremism.