US Pressure on Australia Regarding Social Media Bill and Exemptions
The Washington administration wants Australia's new digital duty bill not to cover major tech giants and to be exempt from algorithmic feed regulations.
The US administration appealed to the Australian government, requesting that major technology companies be exempt from regulations requiring them to give users the option to choose algorithmic recommendation feeds, and warned that the bill in question could lead to cross-border censorship.
US Intervention in the Digital Duty Bill
The US administration directly intervened in the debates regarding the Digital Duty Bill on the agenda in Australia. The White House shared its concerns that the policy could turn into a tool for cross-border censorship of protected speech.
Exemptions and the Status of Major Platforms
In a document published by the US Embassy, the Australian government was requested to exempt social media companies from the obligation to offer the option to use algorithmic recommendation feeds. If this request is accepted, the largest platforms will be excluded.
Questions Directed by Washington to Canberra
The Washington administration also expressed its reservations about the bill by directing official questions to Canberra on issues such as the definition of harm, potential risks, the adjudication process, appeal mechanisms, the role of the Cyber Security Commissioner, and privacy rights.
Visit and Timing Drew Attention
These public criticisms by the US coincided with the period when Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the United States to promote his technology policy agenda at the United Nations General Assembly.