Albanese urges chatbot intimacy ban as Australia digital duty bill advances
Briefing by News4U · First published
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned that children treating AI chatbots as their best friend is a wake-up call, as Australia’s digital duty of care bill passed the lower house with amendments to ban simulated emotional intimacy with minors.
Australia’s digital duty of care bill passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday with amendments targeting AI chatbots that simulate emotional intimacy with children, The Guardian reported. [1]
In a Tuesday night address, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “the stories we hear about people identifying a chatbot, a non person as their best friend, should be a huge wake up call for every member of this Parliament to be prepared to act.” [1]
Communications minister Anika Wells said harms such as content promoting misogyny, terrorism, suicide, self-harm and eating disorders would be covered. After accepting crossbencher Kate Chaney’s amendment, platforms would have to ban “material or conduct that simulates emotional intimacy and encourages or fosters a child’s dependence on it in place of human relationships.” Wells told ABC radio Coalition critics should “bring an amendment, not a slogan to ‘kill the bill’.” [1]
The bill now moves to the Senate. The Greens support a digital duty of care but want the legislation strengthened, while the Coalition and One Nation voted against the bill in the House. [1]
Sources
- ‘Emotional intimacy’ from AI chatbots would be banned under Australia’s digital duty of care laws
The Guardian · · Full text