Australia’s New ‘Digital Duty of Care’ May Exclude Snapchat

The Albanese government’s latest move to regulate social media proposes making platforms responsible for users’ mental health through a “digital duty of care.” However, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has indicated that Snapchat, which allows users to send photos, videos, and texts that can be set to disappear automatically after a chosen time, may be exempted from regulation. Rowland announced last night during a speech to the Sydney Institute that the government planned to impose a legal responsibility for keeping Australians safe onto social media companies, including an ongoing duty to identify and mitigate potential risks, rather than “set and forget.”...