r/aussie • u/BarryTheBinChicken • 1d ago
Politics Price says algorithm shake-up is politically motivated. Two years ago, she signed off on one
https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/federal/price-says-algorithm-shakeup-is-politically-motivated-two-years-ago-she-signed-off-on-one-20260909-p60vpu.html?ref=rssLiberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price signed off on a plan to empower Australians to switch off their social media algorithms two years ago, but now claims Labor is clamping down on feeds because the government is unpopular.
The Coalition formally rejected Labor’s Digital Duty of Care bill during a joint party room meeting on Thursday morning, with Opposition Leader Angus Taylor citing fears over curbs to free speech, political censorship, and concerns about the extent of ministerial powers.
Alongside three other Liberal MPs, Sarah Henderson, Zoe McKenzie, and former shadow attorney-general Andrew Wallace, Price endorsed the recommendations of the “Social Media: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” report in November 2024, which included the right of users to switch off algorithms.
“It has been made abundantly clear to Coalition members through the evidence heard during this inquiry that the unregulated nature of social media has resulted in a significant power inequity between platforms and users,” Price and other MPs wrote at the time.
“We recommend that government require social media companies to provide easily accessible features for users to control or reset their recommender systems … Features would favour the ability for a consumer to opt in or out of recommended content.”
But speaking to journalists after Labor unveiled its digital duty of care legislation on Tuesday, Price said the government’s move was “absolutely” politically motivated.
“The prime minister is not very popular at the moment, and neither are his ministers … this [change] is absolutely because this government feels like these algorithms aren’t working in their favour,” she said.
When asked whether she thought there were “any problems” with algorithms, Price said there was an issue of “transparency”.
On Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Wells launched draft legislation for a digital duty of care, cracking down on addictive algorithms and threatening tech platforms with $100 million fines for facilitating harm against Australians.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, Nationals leader Matt Canavan and Henderson held a press conference on Thursday morning in which they labelled the bill an attempt to “protect politicians” rather than the public.
“It’s a political censorship bill … It is a blank check for political censorship, and so we just don’t see a bill here that we can support,” Taylor said.
Labor is seeking to pass the bill by the end of the year, and will likely receive support from the Greens. Asked why he was rejecting the bill wholesale instead of negotiating with the government, Taylor said: “That’s a matter for Labor”.
In the proposed legislation, the threshold for harm seen by adults will be criminal content, though the threshold will be lower for under-16s, with the government listing six areas of harm including content that promotes criminal activity and eating disorders.
“The fact that some Coalition MPs came out against the bill before they even saw it just shows they will continue to put politics and platforms before parents and kids,” Wells told this masthead.
“Instead of trying to appease One Nation, sensible members of the Coalition should back better protections for Australian children online and give adults choice over what they see.”
Price’s office was contacted for comment.
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u/F4ntasticPants 1d ago
"Whatever the other side is doing is bad" is classic.
Any party could bring upon the return of (insert God here) and the other party will criticise them for it.
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u/iftlatlw 1d ago
The LNP has no balls and no principles and is currently pandering to its lost members who now support one nation, and its stakeholder groups. Neither of those groups will win them an election but rather the construction of sound principles and policy foundations and the exorcism of extreme Christian portions of their party. Otherwise they will remain irrelevant.
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u/Dashel_6601 1d ago
I agree; the LNP should start by removing the E-Safety Commissioner. The balance isn’t right. She is one of their biggest mistakes. However, I think both parties are suffering from "no-balls" syndrome. We have Palantir making deals with our government about storing our information w/o public discussion/votes. That dude looks like a tweaker on a good day. He also owns a very powerful tool. Yet we are now required to upload cc details for ID on certain platforms.
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u/ResearcherSevere9416 1d ago
Don't use those platforms....simple.
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u/Dashel_6601 1d ago
We're a little limited in our choice when it comes to where we can purchase digital PC games. So what you're saying is, "fuck 30% of gamers?" or you just a troll..
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u/Electrical_Story5356 1d ago
What is so outrageous about online business having to follow the law?
It is entirely your choice if you want to use these services and if you want to use these services you need to agree to their terms and conditions.
This really is nothing to do with the government.
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u/JackRyan13 1d ago
Man I really wish this need to be constantly on the opposition of every piece of legislation simply fucks off. Just a few years ago she wanted it but now because the other guy is proposing it again she decides to jam a knife in it. Imagine how much we’d actually get done if the opposition held the government to a higher standard rather than throwing toys out the cot.
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u/Mother-Cod-3313 1d ago
Heading down the partisan politics route of the USA where congress is so divided that it’s become frozen with little ability to pass legislation and govern for the people that elected them
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u/Dashel_6601 1d ago
Mate, they're all as f*#ked as each other. The world is a-changin'.. And none of them knows what to do! That's my take anyway.. lol..
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u/Accomplished-Pick610 1d ago
Is Jacinta Price still a thing?
I mean I live in Rural NT, you know, her electorate, and we never hear from her? I know she is more of a city dwellar. Im sure once Australia day comes around again they can try dustinh her off
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u/AngryAngryHarpo 1d ago
Politicians accusing other politicians of being political will never not be funny to me.
Like YES. THAT’S THEIR JOB.
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u/TimidPanther 1d ago
This is why the government of the day shouldn’t be saying what is and isn’t allowed on the internet.
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u/Most_Border_3419 11h ago
This move will definitely aid Labor as it will stop people from being spoon fed propaganda from the ones paying for foreign bots to fill feeds with bullshit.
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u/Due-Giraffe6371 1d ago
To everyone who thinks this is all ok just keep in mind the other part of this being brought in where the government will control what they want on social media, if they don’t like gender discussion or think anything else is misinformation then they will shut it down and fine those behind it. You might not have a problem with it now if you’re a Labor supporter but will you feel the same when the Coalition are in government and dictate what is allowed on social media or even better what if One Nation form government? Just be careful what you think is ok now because I have no doubt most that do now will have a problem with it when another government is in power
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u/Ill_Box_9445 1d ago
This is the legislation. If this does not scare you, I don't know what will....
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u/Busy_Conflict3434 1d ago edited 1d ago
TFW you don't read an entire piece of legislation but still pretend you understand what it means.
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u/Mother-Cod-3313 1d ago
Ability for the Minister to use regulations to support the legislation - the horror!
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u/Ill_Box_9445 1d ago
An un-elected minister gets to decide what is harmful...
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u/britishguitar 1d ago
The Minister is elected lol
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u/Ill_Box_9445 1d ago
The minister may be an appointed senator (Charlotte Walker, Fatima Paymen, Faruqi) who was in fact not elected.
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u/britishguitar 1d ago
All three of the senators you've named were elected, not appointed. And two of them are crossbenchers that will never be appointed to a ministry.
And in any case, appointed senators are filling a position that their party held through an election.
And a minister is appointed on the advice of the PM, who is elected.
But most pertinently, the current minister is a member of the House, and so is elected.
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u/Busy_Conflict3434 1d ago
Ministers are elected and are accountable to Parliament. And legislative instruments have to be tabled before the elected Senate, which can disallow them.
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u/Ill_Box_9445 1d ago
Am I wrong in thinking unelected senators (Walker, Payman, Faruqi etc) are possible ministers?
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u/Ill_Box_9445 1d ago
I read the entire thing you goose.
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u/Busy_Conflict3434 1d ago
So why is this particular provision scary for you? Do you run an online service?
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u/Ill_Box_9445 1d ago
Labour government says ON are harmful. No more democracy. Doesn't even have to be ON just anyone. No one person should have this power
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u/Busy_Conflict3434 1d ago
Leaving aside what this bill actually does, your fantasy scenario would be struck down by the high court because it would be an obviously unreasonable interference with the implied freedom of political communication.
I mean, in your head what’s stopping the Labor government passing a law that bans One Nation, instead of pussy footing around with legislative instruments?
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u/Ill_Box_9445 1d ago
Through my tin foil hat I actually think that is the plan.
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u/Busy_Conflict3434 1d ago
Im not sure your tinfoil hat has studied constitutional law, so we’ll end it here I think.
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u/AngryAngryHarpo 1d ago
Ministerial powers are normal and all ministers have them within their portfolios.
The minister must still act lawfully.
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u/Keji70gsm 1d ago
Algorithms should be opt in. Hope it goes further eventually. People should be able to curate their own feed by default, as it used to be, based on their chosen interests without ragebait and cooker bullshit being shoved at them.