Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has used a United Nations event in New York to defend Australia’s approach to protecting children online and to argue that national sovereignty now has a digital dimension.
Speaking to the Coalition for Children’s Rights and Protections in the Age of AI, Albanese said Australian parents had been legally empowered by the country’s digital safety reforms.
He pointed to concerns raised by parents about children’s use of social media, including the effect of algorithm-driven feeds and exposure to harmful content. He said children should have more opportunities to play sport, make music, read and build friendships face to face.
“Put simply, we must give children back their childhood,” Albanese said.
The prime minister also highlighted wider risks from artificial intelligence, including the exploitation of children, the potential use of AI in biological weapons and the possibility of losing control of advanced AI systems.
His comments came after Australia joined more than 20 other countries in calling for global safeguards designed to keep humans in control of rapidly developing AI systems. The joint statement said AI development should be accompanied by measures to manage safety and security risks.
Australia’s digital safety reforms have also become the subject of international debate. The United States has criticised parts of the government’s proposed digital duty of care framework, particularly measures concerning algorithmic feeds and their impact on US technology companies.
Albanese has previously argued that Australia should have a role in shaping international rules for AI rather than simply responding to decisions made elsewhere. During his US visit, he also met Apple executive chairman Tim Cook to discuss child-safety features and parental controls.
Australia’s proposed digital duty of care framework was also recently criticised by the US government. Read our earlier report on the US response to Australia’s digital safety plan.
The UN appearance places Australia’s domestic digital safety policies alongside its broader push for international cooperation on artificial intelligence. The government says its approach is intended to give Australians greater protection and choice while supporting the development of safer technology.
What happens next?
The Albanese government is continuing work on digital safety and AI policy, including measures designed to give users more control over algorithmic feeds and to establish enforceable safety standards for digital services.
Sources: Prime Minister of Australia and ABC News
