What to Know About Australia’s Proposed ‘Digital Duty of Care’ Laws
While the draft law is expected to change before being introduced to Parliament, it sets out the Labor government’s expectations for online service providers.
Australia’s Labor government has proposed the Online Safety Amendment (Digital Duty of Care) Bill 2026, which could impose civil penalties of up to $109.2 million on digital service providers for failing to ensure a safe online environment. This new ‘duty of care’ aims to compel powerful companies to increase safety measures for Australians. The proposed laws will place the responsibility on digital service providers to meet minimum standards for safety features and tools.
- Social media platforms, AI chatbots, search engines, and apps could face fines up to $109.2 million (US$78.9 million) for unsafe online environments.
- The Albanese Labor government released the draft Online Safety Amendment (Digital Duty of Care) Bill 2026.
- The ‘digital duty of care’ requires powerful companies to enhance online safety for Australians.
- The laws will mandate digital service providers to establish minimum standards for safety features and tools.
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