White House responds to Australia’s social media proposal

The White House has protested the Australian government’s move to target social media companies.

Communications Minister Anika Wells had declared “there is a global reckoning coming for big tech” when she announced the digital duty of care reforms would force companies to give users the option to opt-out of tailored algorithms or risk an almost $110 million fine.

But the Trump administration has since raised concerns.

“President [Donald] Trump has unequivocally warned trading partners against imposing digital services taxes, fines, and other forms of extortion on America’s leading technology sector,” Trump spokesperson Kush Desai told The Australian Financial Review.

“The Administration remains committed to raising these issues with our trading partners.”

Wells has hit back, saying that Australia is a sovereign nation and digital duty of care is a long-standing government priority.

“We’re proud to stand up for Australian parents and kids, and (Prime Minister Anthony Albanese) looks forward to hopefully seeing the president when he goes to the UN,” she told reporters in Canberra.

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New law to force social media giants to give Aussies option to opt out of algorithms

The Australian and US leaders are both set to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Turkey in November against the backdrop of more trade tensions following Trump’s latest tariffs in July.

Australia was hit with a 12.5 per cent tariff as the US framed the decision around the human rights issue of modern slavery.

November is expected to be the third time Albanese and Trump meet in person.

In the meantime, the federal government is receiving consultation on its draft digital duty of care bill before it goes before parliament later this year.

The Liberals, Nationals and One Nation have raised concerns that clamping down on algorithms would result in government censorship.

It was a claim that Albanese dismissed on Tuesday.

“This is not about giving government control. It’s about giving people control. It’s about putting choice back into the hands of Australians online,” he said.