Australia Hits Back at US Over Online Censorship Warning

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has played down concerns raised by US President Donald Trump’s administration over proposed digital duty of care laws, arguing the plan will not give the government powers to censor political views or regulate internet content.

The US administration warned the Australian government that measures aimed at improving online safety risked turning into what it described as “viewpoint-based censorship”. In a submission to Australia’s public consultation process, the US said the proposal could amount to “extraterritorial censorship of protected speech by Americans online” if Australian rules forced platforms to change how they moderate and present content.

US Submission Challenges “Harm” Definitions

The submission, published on the website of the US embassy in Canberra, said the draft model of protections for people under 18 could unfairly affect users in the United States.

It argued that empowering governments to enforce vague definitions of “harm” would encourage platforms to over-moderate speech that would otherwise be protected, in order to reduce regulatory penalties. It also said that if Australia required platforms to filter content in algorithmic feeds to meet government mandates, the effect on the reach of protected speech would be comparable to removal.

The US also said the administration would likely view such measures as facilitating censorship. It added that platforms often operate at global scale, so Australia-specific design changes could lead to wider impacts on how users around the world, including Americans, experience services and reach audiences.

The intervention follows the US government’s earlier warnings about steps that could impose new restrictions on American companies.

Albanese Says Bill Limits Government Control

Asked about the US position, Albanese said he was acting in Australia’s national interest by improving online safety, including for children.

“It’s not about giving government control, it’s about giving people back control over what they receive on their devices, which is why it is framed in that way,” he said.

He said the government had released an exposure draft and had not yet introduced legislation in parliament. Albanese urged MPs across parties to support the reforms, saying the aim was to return power to Australians rather than to “big global tech companies”.

On Wednesday, Albanese posted a photo alongside Trump on the sidelines of the UN summit, captioned “Always good to catch up with @potus”.

Opt-Out Rules and Child Safety Requirements

The US warning comes as the Albanese government also plans to require platforms to allow account holders to opt out of algorithms that push content into feeds. The US requested that Australia withdraw any plan to mandate algorithmic suppression of content based on “ambiguous government-defined safety criteria”.

The planned duty of care is part of a broader package announced recently by the federal government. It would apply to internet users under 18 and require popular platforms, online games, apps and AI chatbots to protect children from designated harms.

Those harms include pornography; content that promotes, encourages or accelerates eating disorders; misogynistic material; content that glorifies crime or life-endangering stunts; and content that causes serious mental health distress, including abuse and bullying.

Under the proposal, the eSafety commissioner would have powers to issue removal notices to social media companies. Platform operators would be required to document steps taken to address online harms, and parliament could disallow designated harms.

The US concerns were raised as Albanese attended an event for world leaders hosted by Trump during the UN general assembly on Tuesday, New York time. The move is also expected to strengthen opposition from the Coalition, which argues the laws would give too much authority to government to regulate online content.

The legislation announcement followed the arrival in Australia this week of Trump’s new envoy, former congressman David Brat, taking up a role in Canberra.

Communications Minister Anika Wells has described the planned laws as a “global reckoning” for big tech, after the Albanese government introduced a social media ban for under 16s.

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24 September 2026

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