Zoe Daniel Tabled 2024 Big Tech Duty of Care Bill With Penalties Up to 10% of Global Turnover
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Sep 5
Zoe Daniel Tabled 2024 Big Tech Duty of Care Bill With Penalties Up to 10% of Global Turnover
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Sep 5
Summary
A 2024 private member’s bill from independent MP Zoe Daniel would impose a mandatory digital duty of care on tech platforms, targeting addictive design, dark patterns and algorithm-driven harms rather than relying on users to opt out.
Penalties could reach 10% of global turnover, with the bill also requiring risk assessments, mitigation plans, stronger default privacy settings and researcher access to platform systems.
Daniel argues an algorithm switch-off alone is too narrow because platforms profile users and exploit habits to keep them scrolling, amplifying misogyny, sexual violence, divisive content, mental health problems and social isolation.
The proposal was framed as a broader answer than Australia’s under-16 social media ban, aiming to shift responsibility from consumers to platforms as AI and new devices such as smart glasses deepen concerns over information sovereignty.