Full Breakdown
Albanese Calls on Big-Tech to Back Australia’s Child-Online Safety and AI Rules
By Drooid · · How we work
New Push for Tech-Industry Collaboration
On September 20, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Australia is seeking support from major technology firms to strengthen its child-online safety framework and to introduce new artificial-intelligence (AI) standards. The statement followed a meeting with Apple chief executive Tim Cook at the company’s headquarters on September 19, during which Albanese said the nation “can’t do it alone” in protecting children from internet harms. Apple’s response highlighted “strong and intuitive controls” for safeguarding minors. The government plans to present draft legislation later this year that would impose a “duty of care” on platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram and allow users to disable algorithmic feeds.
Legislative Background
Australia became the first country to ban users under 16 from social-media platforms in 2025, a measure aimed at curbing online bullying and “predatory algorithms.” Despite the ban, data released in August showed continued use of Instagram and TikTok by under-16 Australians. The upcoming draft laws build on that 2025 ban by formalising a digital duty of care and expanding AI regulation, with final standards slated for introduction by the end of 2026.
Official Statements & Responses
Albanese emphasized the need for global cooperation, noting that “the risk is that AI develops in a way in which humans are no longer in control of what AI is producing.” He framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to ensure technology serves Australians rather than the reverse. Cook’s public comment echoed the partnership approach, stressing Apple’s new parental-control tools as a model for industry collaboration.
Opposition Concerns
The Liberal-National Coalition released a statement on September 10 opposing the draft bill in its current form.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We spoke about what we’re doing to protect children from online harm and the work ahead,” — Anthony Albanese, prime minister
- “The risk is that AI develops in a way in which humans are no longer in control of what AI is producing,” — Anthony Albanese, prime minister
- “What we saw in the last year is that more than 20 countries have taken up legislative options to try to protect children and make sure that this technology works in the interest of their own population,” — Mr Albanese, prime minister