Online Safety Amendment (Digital Duty of Care) Bill 2026; Second Reading

Opened the debate

Wells argued that the current online safety framework was insufficient, describing it as playing whack-a-mole in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. The proposed digital duty of care would shift responsibility upstream to service providers, requiring them to prevent harm before it reaches users. Wells emphasised that the bill sets minimum safety standards for features and tools, including algorithmic recommender systems and AI-generated content. The legislation aims to protect adults from illegal material while giving them choice, and specifically safeguards children from harmful content on platforms like Roblox and AI chatbots.

Government response

Wells outlined that the bill requires online service providers to conduct annual risk assessments and implement systems to prevent harm from risky features. The legislation includes user empowerment tools, allowing individuals over 16 to opt out of algorithmic feeds and choose the content they see, with four principles ensuring these tools are accessible and effective. Wells noted that under-18s would be protected from content promoting eating disorders, crime, or self-harm, addressing concerns raised by parents about online games and chatbots. A 12-month transitional period would allow industry to comply, with low-risk services facing minimal obligations.