Australia Takes Aim at Big Tech With ‘My Feed, My Way’ Algorithm Law

Australia is preparing to take another major swing at Big Tech, proposing new laws that would give social media users unprecedented control over the algorithms deciding what appears in their feeds. Under the proposed “My Feed, My Way” initiative, Australians aged 16 and over would be able to switch off personalized algorithmic recommendations and instead view content only from people, creators and groups they have actively chosen to follow.

Platforms that fail to comply could face penalties of up to A$109.2 million, putting some of the world’s biggest technology companies on notice.

Australia Wants Users to Control the Algorithm

The proposed My Feed, My Way legislation is being positioned as a digital “duty of care” designed to shift control from social media companies back to users.

Platforms would have to ask users to select their preferred default feed through a notification or pop-up. Those who opt out of recommendation algorithms would receive a chronological or follow-based experience rather than content selected by engagement-driven systems.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the proposal was not about government controlling what Australians see online.

“This is not about giving government control. It’s about giving people control,” Albanese said, arguing that the reforms would change the balance of power between users and technology companies.

The government believes algorithmic recommendation systems can amplify divisive or harmful material because platforms are designed to keep users engaged, which is why it can switch off personalized algorithmic recommendations.

Big Tech Faces Tougher Child-Safety Rules

The proposed legislation goes beyond social media feeds.

Online games, apps and AI chatbots would also face new obligations to protect users under 18 from specific categories of online harm. These include pornography, material promoting eating disorders, misogynistic content, dangerous stunts, glorification of crime, abuse, bullying and content capable of causing serious mental distress.

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner would receive stronger enforcement powers, including the ability to issue removal notices to technology companies.

Platforms would also have to document the steps they take to identify and address online harms.

Communications Minister Anika Wells described the move as part of a wider confrontation with the technology industry, arguing that Australians should not be treated as participants in uncontrolled experiments involving digital products and algorithms.

She declared that a “global reckoning” for Big Tech was coming and suggested Australia was leading the push.

Political Fight Over Internet Censorship

The plan is already triggering a political battle.

The Australian Greens have indicated support for stronger regulation but want tougher measures. Greens communications spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young argued that allowing users to opt out could leave loopholes that technology companies might exploit.

The opposition Nationals have raised a different concern, warning that giving the government stronger powers could create censorship risks over the mere switch-off of personalized algorithmic recommendations

The technology industry has responded more cautiously.

DIGI, which represents companies including Meta, Snapchat and Google, acknowledged public concerns about recommender systems while arguing that algorithms can help users discover diverse content. The group said users should have meaningful choice while addressing online safety risks.

Campaigner Chanel Contos welcomed the proposed reform as an important first step, saying technology companies should not be able to introduce potentially harmful digital features without meaningful user choice.

Australia’s Social Media Experiment Under the Microscope

The announcement follows Australia’s introduction of landmark social media minimum-age restrictions for children under 16.

However, early evidence has raised questions about how effectively those restrictions work. An eSafety Commissioner assessment found that a large majority of Australian children surveyed were still using at least one age-restricted platform several months after implementation.

That experience could make the new algorithm legislation an even bigger test.

If passed, Australia would be taking aim not simply at who can use social media, but at how social media decides what users see.

The legislation is expected to be introduced to parliament later this year, although it could face a lengthy consultation process and political negotiations.

For Meta, Google, TikTok, Snapchat and other platforms, Canberra’s message is increasingly hard to ignore: the era of letting algorithms operate with minimal oversight may be coming to an end.