US warns Australia over digital duty of care plan

The Trump administration has publicly intervened in Australia's debate over its proposed digital duty of care, warning the Albanese government that the policy would constitute "extraterritorial censorship of protected speech" and urging it to exempt US social media companies from the plan. In a submission published by the US Embassy, Washington expressed "serious concerns" about how Australia would define "foreseeable harm," arguing that rigid design mandates would push platforms to demote sensitive topics and reduce the reach of independent voices. The intervention comes as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visits the US to promote his tech agenda. The US government's hostility follows its earlier warnings against "digital services taxes, fines, and other forms of extortion" on American tech firms. Australia's teen social media ban has inspired similar restrictions elsewhere, and US industry group NetChoice has joined a High Court challenge against it.