Australia Seeks Global Tech Collaboration for Child Online Safety and AI Oversight

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks during an official function to mark the start of Australia's social media reform in Sydney on December 10, 2025 [File: David Gray/AFP]

The Australian government is actively seeking support from global tech giants as it works to strengthen the country’s online safety laws and artificial intelligence (AI) regulations. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who met Apple CEO Tim Cook at the tech company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, on Saturday, stated that Australia cannot tackle the challenge of protecting children from internet dangers in isolation.

“We spoke about what we’re doing to protect children from online harm and the work ahead,” Albanese wrote on social media. “We’re putting stronger rules in place to keep Australians safe online. And now, big tech companies like Apple are stepping up too.”

Albanese, who is also visiting the United States for the United Nations General Assembly, used his trip to advocate for stronger AI regulation following serious safety warnings issued by industry leaders. He announced that Australia will introduce new standards for AI by the end of the year. In a video posted to his X account, Albanese emphasized that his Labor government is ensuring technology serves Australians rather than the reverse.

In a separate post on X, Cook confirmed that he shared new, strong, and intuitive controls designed to help keep children safe online with Albanese. Newly unveiled Australian legislation proposed this month would establish a duty of care requirement for firms operating popular platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, while also granting users the ability to disable algorithms.

These draft laws are scheduled to be introduced to parliament later this year following consultations with social media companies, industry bodies, and civil society groups. Meanwhile, the opposition Liberal-National Coalition has stated its opposition to the bill in its current form, arguing in a September 10 statement that it contains inadequate safeguards for free speech and journalism while leaving excessive power with the Communications Minister.

Australia previously implemented legislation barring children under 16 from social media platforms last year as part of a world-first crackdown aimed at protecting minors from online bullying and predatory algorithms. However, data released last month revealed that Australians under 16 continue to use social media applications such as Instagram and TikTok despite the existing ban.