Groups Urge Tighter Digital Duty of Care Laws

More than 80 community organisations have asked Communications Minister Anika Wells to strengthen Australia's online safety protections.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Internet

Groups Urge Tighter Digital Duty of Care Laws

Live Poll

Should social media companies face substantial penalties for breaking online safety laws?

More than 80 community organisations across Australia signed an open letter to Communications Minister Anika Wells calling for tighter Digital Duty of Care laws. The groups say the existing legislation does not fairly protect Australians.

Why it matters

The groups argue current rules leave people exposed to online harms, including racist and homophobic hate speech. Their requests would expand the avenues for redress and raise the penalties social media companies face for breaches.

More than 80 community organisations signed the open letter to Communications Minister Anika Wells. The letter does not indicate whether the government has responded or when any changes might be considered.

The players

Anika Wells

Anika Wells is the Australian Communications Minister, responsible for the portfolio that oversees digital and online safety policy.

The details

The organisations request protections against racist and homophobic hate speech, a private right of action allowing people harmed by breaches of the duty of care to seek compensation, and substantial penalties for social media companies that break the law. The groups believe the existing legislation does not fairly protect Australians.

Roadmap

The request builds on Australia's Digital Duty of Care framework, asking lawmakers to add enforcement tools the groups say are missing. It places community advocates in a push to make platform obligations enforceable by those harmed.

If the requested changes are adopted, people harmed by online hate speech could seek compensation directly. Social media users would be covered by stronger obligations on the platforms they use daily.

The takeaway

Online safety rules depend on whether people harmed by platforms can seek redress. Readers can follow the debate as the government considers whether to act on the groups' requests.