The federal government wants to require social media platforms to offer an opt-out of their algorithms. (Close up of an iphone on a white surface by Ingmar is licensed under Unsplash License)

Draft laws would create an opt-out system to turn off algorithms on social media platforms.

The bill would also make social media companies responsible for minimising and preventing harm on their platforms.

The draft laws will be introduced by the federal government this week.

Social media companies would be required to give users a choice to turn off their algorithm through pop-up messages, under draft laws to be unveiled by the government later this week.

An exposure draft of the long-awaited Digital Duty of Care will be released as Labor steps up efforts to tackle online harm.

The ABC understands the proposed law would place the onus on social media companies to identify and mitigate risks on their platforms and prevent the sharing of harmful content.

That includes illegal content, including illegal pornography, being made available to adults.

For under-18s, about half a dozen additional areas of "psycho-social harm" would be identified, including content about body image and bullying.

The companies would face hefty fines of more than $100 million for breaches of the law.

Armed with a burner phone and a fake name, I set out to learn how Instagram’s algorithm really works. This is what happened next.

As for algorithms, regular pop-up messages would be required, asking if users want to stick with the algorithm or only see what people they are following are posting. The user would have the choice.

Algorithms prioritise content for based on information such as a user's consumption habits, demographic and location data.

They have been criticised for amplifying sensationalist content, reinforcing echo chambers and playing a role in radicalising young people in the interests of keeping people on platforms for longer.

The eSafety commissioner and registered independent researchers would be empowered to police the social media platforms by using so-called "sock puppets", posing as children to monitor what is being fed to young people online.

Source: Read the original article on www.abc.net.au

Written by https://futureknowledge.in/