Albanese defends social media laws against US censorship claims

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended Australia's draft digital duty of care laws against US criticism, rejecting claims they constitute censorship while the Trump administration opposes AI regulation. The US embassy made a rare submission calling the reforms "extraterritorial censorship of protected speech" and urging exemptions for American tech companies. Albanese said he would "always stand up for Australia's national interests" and engage constructively before finalising the legislation. Coalition frontbencher Andrew Bragg echoed US concerns about censorship and bureaucratic power, while Albanese framed the reforms as an "inevitable next stage" to protect people online from misinformation and polarisation.