Anika Wells signals openness to digital duty changes

• Communications Minister Anika Wells expressed willingness to negotiate amendments to Australia's proposed digital duty of care legislation.
• The draft bill introduces maximum corporate penalties of up to $109.2 million for non-compliant tech platforms.
• The government aims to give citizens control over social media algorithms and mitigate online harms targeting minors.

Communications Minister Anika Wells indicated she would consider parliamentary amendments to the proposed digital duty of care framework to ensure rapid removal of harmful internet material.

The proposal follows growing political debate after the Coalition Opposition publicly rejected an exposure draft over censorship concerns without submitting formal counter-proposals.

"If the Coalition has a different way of meeting that intent of dealing with urgency to address new serious harms, I'd love to hear it, but I haven’t had so much as a phone call from the shadow communications minister on the exposure draft," stated Wells.

Under the draft rules, tech platforms could face fines up to $109.2 million for failing to protect users under 18 from harmful content and addictive features.

The minister stated that giving Australians control over algorithmic feeds remains a core objective of the legislative effort.

The proposed digital duty of care builds on Australia's existing online safety framework and world-first social media age restrictions for under-16s.

The government stated that the draft legislation will undergo further targeted consultation before being introduced to parliament.