# US calls Australia's algorithm laws 'censorship'

> US says Australia's social media opt-out laws risk censorship of protected speech.
- Title: US calls Australia's algorithm laws 'censorship' · BBC News
- Summary: US says Australia's social media opt-out laws risk censorship of protected speech. US criticises Australia's proposed algorithm opt-out laws as 'censorship'…
- Keywords: australia, algorithm, opt out, censorship, digital duty of care, social media, united states, prime minister anthony albanese, un general assembly, technology, startups, calls
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.com/news/articles/cqj3dgy8x3vro
- Published: 2026-09-23T01:35:56.017+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: australia, algorithm, opt out, censorship, digital duty of care, social media, united states, prime minister anthony albanese, un general assembly, technology, startups
## us criticises australian laws
The us has criticised australia's proposal to give users the ability to opt out of social media algorithms, saying it amounts to 'censorship of protected speech'.

> censorship of protected speech
## australian digital duty of care
Under australia's draft digital duty of care laws, tech firms risk hefty fines if they fail to give users the option to turn off algorithms to protect them from harmful content.
## us embassy submission
In a rare submission to the proposed laws, the us embassy in canberra said it had 'serious concerns' and allowing the government to 'enforce vague definitions of harm' would lead to 'viewpoint-based censorship'.

> serious concerns
## australian prime minister response
australian prime minister anthony albanese said the legislation was not about giving governments control but giving it back to individuals.
## us concerns about journalists
the us also claimed that the proposed laws may risk 'reducing the reach of independent journalists or other voices whose content touches on sensitive or controversial topics' if tech firms had to 'pre-emptively demote' them.

> reducing the reach of independent journalists
## global impact warning
an opt-out option would 'allow regulators to impose rigid, one-size-fits-all platform design requirements' on tech firms and this could affect users outside of australia, it said.

> allow regulators to impose rigid, one-size-fits-all platform design requirements
## Key takeaway

US criticises Australia's proposed algorithm opt-out laws as 'censorship' of protected speech.