RismadarVoice Reporters
September 23, 2026
The United States has raised concerns over Australia’s proposed social media reforms, warning that rules governing algorithms and online content could encourage excessive moderation and potentially facilitate censorship.
The concerns were contained in a submission by the US government to Australia’s consultation on its proposed Digital Duty of Care legislation.
Under the draft reforms, social media platforms would be required to give users greater control over their feeds, including the option to receive personalised algorithmic recommendations or instead see content from accounts they have chosen to follow.
Washington said it had “serious concerns” about requirements that could allow regulators to impose uniform platform designs, including chronological feeds or recommendation systems requiring users to opt in.
The US also warned that changes imposed on platforms operating in Australia could have effects beyond the country, potentially influencing how users elsewhere interact with social media services.
It urged Australian authorities to clearly define concepts such as “harm” and “risk”, including how they would be determined and enforced.
According to the US position, broadly defined requirements could encourage platforms to remove or reduce the visibility of lawful content to avoid regulatory penalties.
“The U.S. government would likely consider such a measure as facilitating censorship,” the submission said.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejected the suggestion that the reforms were intended to increase government control over online content.
Albanese said the proposed measures were instead aimed at giving individuals greater control over what they receive on their devices. He said his government would continue consultations before finalising the legislation.
The Australian government released draft legislation for its “My Feed, My Way” initiative earlier in September as part of the broader Digital Duty of Care framework.
The disagreement highlights differing approaches between Washington and Canberra over how governments should regulate social media platforms while balancing online safety, platform design and freedom of expression.
