Policy Brief by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S) and the Centre of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Ethics (CAIDE): “…outlines two possible models for the design of an effective and systemic statutory Digital Duty of Care.
- A risk-based model, which would require digital platforms to assess and take reasonable steps to prevent and mitigate the risk of harm arising from the design, operation and use of their services.
- An outcomes-based model, which would require platforms to actively enable a safe, inclusive, healthy and rights-respecting digital environment in the long term.
Strengthening accountability and transparency
The researchers argue that the effectiveness of any Digital Duty of Care will depend on robust accountability frameworks that govern how platforms operate, curate content for, and facilitate engagement between users.
They note that existing transparency measures, which often rely on aggregated reporting, are not sufficient to explain how algorithmic systems shape users’ online experiences.
Instead, they call for new legal and technical infrastructure to enable users, regulators and civil society to meaningfully monitor and observe platform behaviour.
Call for a national platform observatory
A key recommendation of the brief is the establishment of a dedicated national platform observatory, with the mandate and resourcing to track how algorithmic systems target and curate content for Australians.
The observatory would also be responsible for collecting and analysing the information needed to assess whether platforms are complying with the proposed Digital Duty of Care.
Researchers argue that such infrastructure is essential to ensure the transparency, accountability and effectiveness of the new regulatory framework, and to support long-term public trust in digital platforms..(More)”.
