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What's Happening
- The Australian House of Representatives passed the Digital Duty of Care bill to ban AI chatbots designed to establish emotional intimacy with users.
- The legislation requires social media platforms to provide an accessible opt-out feature for algorithmically suggested content.
- The framework replaces existing online standards to block content promoting self-harm, eating disorders, and terrorism, according to Communications Minister Anika Wells.
Why It Matters
Governments are expanding their regulatory focus from data privacy and misinformation to the psychological impact of artificial intelligence. The legislation targets the growing trend of users forming deep attachments to synthetic companions.
The Context
- The American Psychological Association reports that 49% of adults speak with artificial intelligence as if it were a human friend.
- Australia enacted a ban on social media for children under 16 in 2025.
What They're Saying
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told parliament that stories of people identifying a chatbot as their best friend serve as a wake-up call for lawmakers to act.
- The Coalition and One Nation parties oppose the legislation, characterizing the Labor proposal as an Orwellian system of censorship.
What to Watch
- The Australian Senate will debate the bill in the coming weeks, with the Labor party seeking passage by the end of the year.
- Labor remains open to amendments to secure support from opposing parties.
The Bottom Line
Australia is pushing aggressive new digital safety laws to prevent AI platforms from exploiting human emotional vulnerabilities.