Why Washington Is Publicly Opposing Australia’s Opt‑Out Algorithm Bill

In an extraordinarily uncommon diplomatic move, the Trump administration has taken the unusual step of publicly rebuking Australia’s draft “digital duty of care” legislation, which would let users opt out of algorithmic feeds.

White House spokesperson Kush Desai told the Guardian Australia that President Donald Trump had warned other nations against imposing “digital services taxes, fines, and other forms of extortion on America’s leading technology sector,” framing the Australian proposal as part of that broader concern.

The United States’ objection, articulated in a submission published by the US Embassy, insists that any such law must exclude American‑based social‑media platforms, effectively neutering the measure’s reach on the biggest services.

Washington argues the proposal could amount to “extraterritorial censorship of protected speech,” warning that mandatory, one‑size‑fits‑all design requirements would force platforms to demote sensitive or controversial content, thereby shrinking the space for independent journalists and dissenting voices.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was in New York, using the United Nations General Assembly to promote Australia’s broader tech‑policy agenda, including its AI stance and a domestic teen‑social‑media ban.

Communications Minister Anika Wells, who is steering the digital duty of care bills, has described the White House’s warning as “broad” and says she has not received a direct notice from any US representative.

The US Embassy’s brief noted “serious concerns” about how Australia would define “foreseeable harm” and who would adjudicate such determinations, underscoring the rarity of a foreign government intervening publicly rather than through private diplomatic channels.

By flagging potential cross‑border design mandates, Washington signals that a fragmented global regulatory landscape could force platforms to implement incompatible technical standards, a scenario it deems unscalable and detrimental to user experience worldwide.

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