U.S. warns Australia’s social media algorithm reforms risk ‘facilitating censorship’

SYDNEY — The Trump administration has criticized Australia’s proposed social media algorithm reforms, which would give users the option to choose the content on their feeds, warning that Washington would most likely view them as “facilitating censorship.”

Under draft laws proposed this month by Australia’s center-left Labor government, social media platforms would be required to notify users and offer a default algorithm-recommended content feed, with the option to opt out and instead see posts only from accounts they choose to follow.

In a formal submission to Australia’s public consultation process, the U.S. Embassy in Canberra said late Tuesday that it had “serious concerns” about the proposed law’s goal of mandating how platforms manage content and user feeds.

“We are particularly concerned by potential mandates that would allow regulators to impose rigid, one-size-fits-all platform design requirements — such as forced chronological feeds or opt-in recommendation systems,” the statement said.

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The U.S. warned that the proposed legislation could have implications beyond Australia’s borders, saying the mandated algorithm design requirements “may affect what users see, say and hear not just in or from Australia, but globally.”

Washington urged Canberra to clearly define how “harm” and “risk” would…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business