The US has criticised Australia’s proposed laws allowing social media users to opt out of algorithm-driven content, calling them a potential form of censorship. Australia says the measure is intended to protect people from harmful material and return control over what users see to individuals, rather than give governments greater power.

The US embassy warned that vague definitions of “harm” could enable viewpoint-based censorship, reduce the reach of independent or minority voices, and impose platform-design rules affecting users globally. The proposal would expose technology companies to substantial fines if they failed to offer an algorithm opt-out, following Australia’s recent ban on social media for under-16s.