Australia seeks big tech backing on online safety, AI

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was seeking big tech support for child online safety laws and stronger artificial intelligence regulation after meeting Tim Cook in California.

Albanese met Cook at Apple's headquarters on Saturday and said Australia could not protect children from online dangers alone. He said Australia was putting stronger rules in place to keep people safe online and that big tech companies such as Apple were stepping up.

Cook said on X that he had shared new controls designed to help keep children safe online.

Australia passed legislation last year barring under-16s from social media platforms, in what it described as a world-first crackdown intended to protect children from online bullying and predatory algorithms.

Draft laws unveiled this month would place a duty of care on companies behind major platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. They would also allow users to turn off algorithms if they choose.

Data released last month found that under-16s in Australia were increasing their use of social media apps such as Instagram and TikTok despite the ban. The draft laws are expected to be introduced to parliament later this year after consultation with social media companies, industry bodies and civil society groups.

Albanese, who is visiting the United States for the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, has also called for more regulation of AI. He said Australia would introduce new AI standards by the end of the year.

“The risk is that AI develops in a way in which humans are no longer in control of what AI is producing,” Albanese told national broadcaster ABC. He said the question was how to make sure people remained in control rather than technology controlling them.