Australia seeks big tech support for internet safety, AI regulation

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used a trip to the United States, where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly, to press global technology firms for support on Canberra’s online safety and AI plans. During a meeting at Apple’s Cupertino headquarters, Albanese discussed measures his government is preparing to protect children from online harm and asked Apple to back the reforms. Albanese said Australia will roll out new AI standards by the end of the year as part of wider regulatory work. He framed the broader effort as ensuring technology serves Australians, and not the reverse. Apple’s executive chairman Tim Cook posted that he shared information on new parental and safety controls the company is developing. The legislation unveiled this month would place a duty of care on companies that operate major social platforms and include an option for users to opt out of algorithmic content feeds. The government plans to introduce the draft laws to parliament later in the year, following consultations with social media companies, industry bodies and civil society groups. The proposed reforms have already attracted political pushback: the opposition Liberal-National Coalition said on September 10 that the bill, as drafted, lacks sufficient protections for free speech and journalism and concentrates too much authority with the Communications Minister. The measures build on last year’s law barring under-16s from social media, a rule that recent data indicated is not fully preventing use of apps such as Instagram and TikTok by that age group.