Australia advances bill to limit chatbots replacing human relationships for children
Australia’s House of Representatives has passed a bill that would impose a digital duty of care on online platforms, including social media, games, apps and AI chatbots. The government has accepted an amendment targeting chatbots that encourage children to rely on them in place of human relationships, following Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s warning about children treating chatbots as their best friends.
The proposed rules would require platforms to protect users from certain harmful material and let social media users opt out of algorithmic recommendations. The bill passed with support from Labor and the Greens, while the Coalition and One Nation opposed it; it now goes to the Senate, where an inquiry is due to report in late November. Greens and independent MPs are also pressing for stronger penalties and an external complaints route for users.
In short
- Australia’s lower house passed a digital duty of care bill.
- An amendment targets chatbots that foster children’s dependence.
- The bill faces Senate debate and scrutiny.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters argue that platforms should have a duty to reduce foreseeable harms to children, including chatbot designs that encourage emotional dependence or displace human relationships. Requiring safer practices and giving users more control over recommendations could help protect children while setting clearer expectations for rapidly changing services.
The case against
Critics may argue that broad duties covering social media, games, apps and chatbots risk restricting lawful content or giving platforms uncertain rules to interpret. They may favour targeted protections and parental guidance over regulation that could limit user choice, entrench compliance costs or discourage useful online services.
Explained simply
A digital duty of care is a legal requirement for online services to take steps to reduce harm to users. The proposed Australian rules cover social media, games, apps and AI chatbots, and include a way for social media users to opt out of algorithmic recommendations, which are posts or content selected by automated systems.
The chatbot amendment focuses on services that could encourage children to depend on them instead of building relationships with people. The bill has passed the House of Representatives, one chamber of Australia’s parliament, and is now before the Senate; its inquiry is due to report in late November.
AI Art Culture Government Politics Technology
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by The Guardian as “‘Emotional intimacy’ from AI chatbots would be banned under Australia’s digital duty of care laws”.