Accepted amendments would target chatbot conduct that simulates emotional intimacy and fosters children’s dependence instead of human relationships, and require prominent algorithm opt-outs. The bill needs Senate approval to become law.
Australia’s House of Representatives passed the Digital Duty of Care bill on 28 October, Guardian Australia said. The government accepted amendments from MP Kate Chaney to address children’s dependence on chatbots and make algorithm opt-outs easier to find and use. The bill and its amendments still need Senate approval and are not law.
The government announced its algorithm-switch proposal in September and introduced the legislation in October, as the BBC described on 16 October. The proposal would let social media users turn off recommended posts and see only content from accounts they follow.
Chaney sits on the crossbench, outside the government and main opposition. One of her accepted amendments targets superintelligence (SI) chatbots—software that responds in conversation. It would require platforms to prohibit material or conduct that simulates emotional intimacy and encourages or fosters a child’s dependence on it in place of human relationships.
On 27 October, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese raised concern about children treating chatbots as their best friends. The amendment addresses that kind of dependence, rather than banning chatbots generally.
Chaney’s other accepted amendment would require algorithm opt-out features to be accessible, easy to use and prominently available. It comes amid concerns that platforms might otherwise offer only small or hard-to-find controls. If enacted, the requirement would make the visibility and usability of the switch part of platforms’ obligations, not merely require them to provide one.
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This is an opt-out, not a requirement to turn recommendations off by default. Consent education campaigner Chanel Contos had sought the opposite default: recommendations off unless users chose to turn them on. The government’s version leaves users to choose whether to switch them off.
Many platforms already offer following-only feeds, but users can lose functions or have to select the option again when reopening an app. The BBC said on 16 October that Instagram’s option prevented access to direct messages, profiles and settings, and reverted to recommendations after users left the app.
The Netherlands was the exception. Those restrictions were removed there after a Dutch court found in 2025 that Meta had breached the European Union’s Digital Services Act. Meta lost an appeal in March 2026, leaving Dutch users with a continuing choice over their home feeds.
After Australia’s announcement, Instagram head Adam Mosseri argued that feeds without recommendation algorithms would show fewer posts from friends. Social media companies more broadly argue that the risks are overstated and that they already provide effective safety tools.
A duty of care is a legal responsibility to take steps to protect others from harm. The bill would cover social media, games, apps and chatbots. The government says it would replace a range of existing online codes and standards with an overarching safety obligation. Services would have to ensure a safe online environment so far as reasonably practicable.
The proposed protections differ by age. Children would be protected from harmful material and design features, including pornography and material encouraging eating disorders or harmful attitudes towards women. Adults would be protected from seriously harmful material and conduct—a narrower category the BBC described as illegal content. Breaches could attract fines of up to A$100 million.
The government says the reforms aim to protect users and hopes they will make Australians happier and healthier. Communications Minister Anika Wells said the broader duty would shift responsibility from people harmed to online operators.
Right-wing parties in Australia and the Trump administration have argued that the feed proposal and wider bill risk excessive content moderation and censorship. Wells said adults would remain free to choose whom they follow and what they share, including criticism of government, memes and claims that the Moon landing was fake.
The Greens support the bill, while the Coalition voted against it in the House and has said it will not support it. The Labor government remains open to amendments and is still seeking opposition support, leaving the route to Senate approval unresolved.
The bill moves to the Senate for debate. An inquiry established by the Greens is due to report in late November, and the government hopes to secure passage by the end of 2026. Senate consideration will determine whether the proposed chatbot protections, feed controls and wider safety duties can become law.
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The Gemini for Home changes also target mistaken timer requests and controls for devices in other rooms. Rollout began on 29 October 2026 and may take time to reach everyone.
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Correction ·
Corrected the wording of the English version.
