Australian government introduces Digital Duty of Care bill to regulate AI chatbots

Date:
Wed, 28 Oct 2026 15:37:54 +0000

Description:
The proposed ban is also designed to shield social media users from content that promotes harmful content including misogyny, terrorism, and suicide.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Australia government has issued a bill to ban chatbots that create 'emotional intimacy' with users The bill
is also designed to reshape broader online standards to shield users from harmful content It arrives as the American Psychological Association reports that 49% of adults speak with AI as if it were a friend The Australian government has issued a bill that will ban AI chatbots which seek to
establish emotional intimacy with its users, following a speech given by
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on October 27.

The Digital Duty of Care bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives on October 28, could create new online safety measures
applied across social media, games, apps, and chatbots to provide a safe online environment for all Australians, says the Labor party. The bill is set to be debated by the Senate in the coming weeks, with hopes it will be officially passed by the end of the year, The Guardian reports. Not only is the framework designed to prevent AI chatbots from infiltrating young users emotional dependency, the bill will replace existing, broader online
standards to shield users from harmful content. In 2025, Australia made history by becoming the first nation to ban social media for under-16s . Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

According to Communications Minister, Anika Wells, content that encourages misogyny, terrorism, suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders will also be included. At the same time, the bill would also require social media
platforms to have an easy-to-access opt-out feature for suggested content fuelled by the algorithm.

Though the bill will be debated in the upper house before a final decision is made, its still unclear whether it will win the support of other parties. As it stands, the Greens continue to back Labors proposal while the Coalition
and One Nation stand by their opposition to the bill, blaming Labor of
forming an Orwellian system of censorship. You may like I asked a therapist
if other countries should ban AI companions like China Australia mulls world-leading ban on smart glasses in government agencies British lawmakers call for stronger AI laws

Despite this backlash, Labor is determined to convince them otherwise, saying its still open to amendments. In his speech given on Tuesday, Albanese addressed the Coalition in an attempt to sway their vote saying the stories
we hear about people identifying a chatbot , a non-person as their best friend, should be a huge wake up call for every member of this parliament to be prepared to act.

In addition to these challenges, Labor has fallen under increasing pressure
to enlist the telecommunications ombudsman as a social media and AI watchdog (which doesnt exist for big tech) after the party rejected an amendment
during the lower house debate. This would allow social media users to file complaints if their accounts ever became hacked or inaccessible, and would also include compensation and will make room for investigating broader issues to name and shame tech giants. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Analysis: Chatbot dependency is only getting worse (Image credit: Getty Images) The Labor party surely has a tough debate ahead, but despite the proposed bills criticisms the Australian governments decision to tighten online safety measures hasnt come from nowhere and its not the first nation to clamp down on chatbots in this way.

Just a few months back, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and four other government departments introduced new regulations to ban AI-generated romantic companions , including virtual relationships with minors. The laws stated that these AI tools could no longer excessively cater to users, induce emotional dependence or addiction, and damage users real interpersonal relationships.

Following the rollout of the legislation, companion chatbots from tech companies such as ByteDance, Tencent, and Alibaba were forced into evaluation before becoming publicly available again. If the government deemed these services unsafe, it shut them down. What to read next Anthropic bans needless abusive or cruel behavior towards Claude OpenAI sent an oddly casual apology after its AI accessed Australian government systems 5 things you need to know about the big AI 'slowdown' battle

With this in mind, both China and Australias recent actions reflect an alarming rise of user-chatbot dependency. According to a recent American Psychological Association (APA) survey reported by Medical Daily , Americans are turning to AI for emotional support as they struggle with financial pressure and remain uncertain about the future.

The results from the survey show that 49% of adults who use AI said they conversed with it as a friend, and 47% had used it as if it were a mental health professional including seeking a second opinion on a therapist's suggestions or for therapeutic practices. Additionally, 77% of the surveys 3,132 respondents identified that the rising cost of living is one of the biggest causes of stress, and 74% mentioned their concerns about the nation's future.

That said, seeking the advice of an AI chatbot is something that Medical
Daily seriously condemns. AI systems can provide inaccurate information, miss important context, or respond inappropriately to someone in distress. Users may also share sensitive personal information without fully understanding how a particular service stores or uses their conversations, the outlet writes.

It also added the following: People who use chatbots for emotional support should treat responses as general assistance, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. They should avoid relying on AI alone when symptoms persist, worsen, or interfere with daily life, and should discuss significant mental health concerns with a qualified health professional.

By clamping down on regulations for chatbots, the Australian government has shown its awareness of the rising reliance on AI services, and it clearly wants to prevent this before the issue is irreversible. That said, Labor
still faces the challenge of convincing opposers that this bill is the best practice for the nation. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/ai-platforms-assistants/australia-government-wants-t o-ban-ai-chatbots-that-create-emotional-intimacy-but-critics-are-accusing-it-o f-creating-an-orwellian-system-of-censorship


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