The Australian government is preparing to introduce a new set of privacy reforms aimed at giving individuals greater control over their personal information on social media platforms. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland is scheduled to release an exposure draft of legislation on Monday that would grant Australians the right to demand the removal of their data from large digital platforms.
Rowland emphasized the need for stronger safeguards to protect privacy in the digital age, stating that the right to erasure would empower users to ensure their personal details are deleted from online services. The proposed changes come amid broader government discussions on limiting the influence of social media algorithms, particularly in light of Meta’s recent $18 billion settlement with multiple U.S. states.
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek highlighted concerns about the role of algorithms in promoting harmful content online. She noted that young boys with social media accounts in Australia are typically exposed to violent and misogynistic material within 23 minutes of use, describing this as a deliberate choice by tech companies that potentially distorts understandings of healthy relationships. Plibersek confirmed the government’s openness to exploring regulatory restrictions on algorithms as part of its forthcoming Digital Duty of Care legislation, expected to be introduced to Parliament later this year.
The government is also reviewing the changes Meta agreed to implement following its U.S. settlement. These include daily limits on app use, curfews for teenagers between midnight and 6 a.m., removal of “extreme make-up” filters by default, and a mandatory opt-out option for algorithmically generated feeds. Plibersek noted the possibility that such features could be adopted more widely across global platforms if enforced in Australia.
In addition to the privacy reforms targeting social media, the government will launch an identity protection service through the myGov platform. This service will initially be made available to a pilot group before a national rollout next year and is designed to enable individuals to monitor and block unauthorized use of key documents such as driver’s licenses and passports. Officials say the goal is to strengthen defenses against data breaches, scams, and cyber-enabled crime.
Public consultation on the privacy reform draft opens Monday as the government continues to consider comprehensive measures to enhance digital privacy and safety amid growing concerns over online content and data misuse.