Albanese pushes AI chatbot intimacy ban as duty of care bill heads to Senate

The Australian federal government advanced a new digital duty of care bill through the House of Representatives on Wednesday, moving legislation closer to a ban on AI chatbots that create emotional bonds with minors. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese framed the measure as a necessary response to children identifying non-human agents as their primary companions.

The bill introduces a comprehensive duty of care standard for social media, games, apps, and chatbots, replacing a patchwork of existing online codes with a single obligation to provide a safe environment. Minister for Communications Anika Wells stated the laws would capture content promoting misogyny, terrorism, suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders. A key amendment accepted from crossbencher Kate Chaney mandates that platforms ban material simulating emotional intimacy that encourages a child's dependence on it over human relationships.

The legislation also mandates that social media platforms offer a clearly accessible and prominent opt-out feature for algorithmic content and suggestions. This change addresses concerns that major technology companies may hide such controls. Wells defended the bill against opposition claims of censorship, telling ABC radio on Wednesday that critics should bring amendments rather than slogans to defeat the measure.

While the bill passed the lower house with support from the Greens, the Coalition and One Nation voted against it. The Greens, led by Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, plan to use their Senate inquiry, which reports in late November, to push for stronger provisions including private legal action rights and higher penalties. Hanson-Young argued that Australians need an external complaints pathway free from the profit motives of big tech content moderation.

Pressure is mounting on Labor to expand the role of the telecommunications industry ombudsman to act as a watchdog for social media and AI. Independent MP Sophie Scamps proposed this expansion to provide users with a formal mechanism for complaints and compensation, but Labor declined the amendment in the House. Cynthia Gebert, the current telecommunications ombudsman, told Guardian Australia that her office is well placed to take on the role and could be funded by the industry it regulates.

Gebert noted that her office currently lacks the power to help consumers with accounts from providers like Gmail, despite frequent requests. She said the current system leaves users with automated responses that often do not resolve issues. The bill now moves to the Senate for debate, with the government aiming for passage by the end of 2026.