Australia's Draft Digital Duty of Care Would Let Users Turn the Recommender Off, and It Covers AI Chatbots
The Albanese Government released draft Digital Duty of Care legislation on September 8, with a 'My Feed, My Way' provision letting users 16+ choose whether their default feed carries algorithm-recommended content or only accounts they follow, and requiring platforms to notify users of that choice. Scope explicitly includes AI chatbots alongside social media, online games, apps and messaging, and providers must document risk mitigations and show they keep working. Penalties reach $109.2 million enforced by the eSafety Commissioner, with consultation now and introduction to Parliament in 2026. For anyone shipping a conversational product into Australia, the notable part is that a chatbot is regulated the same as a feed, including the under-18 design obligations.
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