Labour proposes digital watchdog and social media ban for under 16s

The Labour Party has unveiled a social media policy package that includes an independent digital watchdog and personalised feed controls. If elected, the party intends to pass existing legislation for a social media ban for those under 16 through its first reading within 100 days. This plan includes adding privacy safeguards to age checks.

A proposed 'Digital Duty of Care' would shift responsibility from individuals to social media companies by imposing legal requirements to identify risks and protect users from addictive designs and harmful content. This duty would also target deepfake abuse, including non-consensual sexual images, and provide powers to remove harmful 'nudify' apps and sites. The new regulator would have the authority to investigate practices and issue fines to companies that break rules.

Under the proposed feed controls, social media companies would be required to ask users aged 16 and over if they want an algorithm-driven feed or a feed showing only posts from accounts they follow. Users would be able to switch between these options at any time.

Labour science, technology and innovation spokesperson Reuben Davidson stated that the party is confident it can force changes, saying companies 'will pay the price' if they do not comply. He suggested that working alongside other countries would create a 'force multiplier effect' to ensure platforms abide by the rules.

How it developed

• Mon 19 Oct, 1:00pmReuben Davidson noted that the most serious penalty for non-compliance under existing under-16 ban legislation could be $40 million or 10% of global turnover.

Where reports differ

• Reports differ on the specific details of the current government's under-16 ban bill, with one noting it lacked support from National's coalition partners, while another attributes the failure to pass its first reading to legislative pressure and time constraints

Compiled from reports by The Post, Stuff, Otago Daily Times and NZ Herald.