On 15 October 2026, the Minister for Communications introduced legislation into the Parliament to enable a Digital Duty of Care.
The proposed Digital Duty of Care reforms will protect and empower Australians online by:
- requiring online service providers to take reasonable steps to keep Australian users safe on their service
- ensuring providers have robust user empowerment tools so Australian users can tailor their online experiences – for example, by choosing whether algorithm recommended content appears in their feeds
- empowering the eSafety commissioner to issue removal notices for nudify apps and websites, reduce required response to cyberbullying and abuse complaints to 24 hours, and set minimum standards for complaint and dispute processes with platforms.
Providers who do not comply with the Digital Duty of Care could face penalties of up to $109.2 million if the legislation is passed.
The Digital Duty of Care will set minimum safety standards for the digital services we use every day. At the core of the Digital Duty of Care is the obligation to provide a safe online environment, where all Australians are protected from seriously harmful and illegal material and conduct, and under 18s are protected from material, conduct and features that are harmful to young people.