Kate Chaney welcomes the government’s proposed Digital Duty of Care as an important move towards safer online services, while calling for changes to make it more effective.
In her opinion piece, Kate supports requirements for platforms to prevent harm, address risks to children from algorithms and addictive features, and provide greater transparency and access for researchers.
She identifies three priorities for improvement: stronger protection for adults from harmful platform design, penalties large enough to influence global technology companies, and safeguards around ministerial powers to change the categories of harm covered by the law.
Kate argues that protecting free speech and holding platforms accountable can go together. She urges parliamentary colleagues to work constructively on the legislation, with the aim of reducing online harm for all Australians.