Why the Digital Duty of Care Bill could block life-saving drug and health advice
The Digital Duty of Care Bill treats harm-reduction and sexual health content as harmful.
This week the government will introduce the Digital Duty of Care Bill. It makes platforms legally responsible for removing certain content.
That content encourages or instructs illicit drug use or certain sexual acts. Harm reduction is the core of Australian public health strategy.
It provides information to help people use drugs and have sex more safely. Social platforms already shadow-ban this content.
Pill Testing Australia had warnings about dangerous drugs removed days before a music festival. An HIV campaign told people that treatment stops transmission.
This was flagged as misinformation. The bill would force platforms to block even more health advice.
This includes safer-injecting guidance and sex education that explains risks. Experts and health groups have called for changes.
They want to either remove broad content categories or add a clear exemption for health promotion material.
- 2024
- Review year
- Meta, TikTok, Snapchat
- Platforms blocking content
- Shadow banning
- Moderation method
Why it mattersBlocking harm-reduction information costs lives. These campaigns prevent overdose deaths and sexually transmissible infections. Removing them puts vulnerable people at risk.
AustraliaAustralian drug checking services, sexual health educators, and public health organisations could face even stricter content removal, making it harder to reach people who need help.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 13 h ago
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