Australia: Digital services regulation – where to next?

Following the Australian federal election on 3 May 2025, the Albanese Government has been returned for a second term with an increased majority. This alert takes the chance to revisit recent developments in digital service regulation and look ahead to the Government's second term.

In brief

Regulation of digital services has been an area of rapid development during the first term of the Albanese Government.

Whilst the acceleration of digital services regulation in Australia can be traced back to key developments under the previous Morrison Government, such as the commencement of the ACCC Digital Platform Services Inquiry in February 2020 and the passage of the Online Safety Act in 2021, the last few years have seen significant developments in areas such as online safety, scams, competition and consumer law, misinformation/ disinformation regulation and privacy.

If the recent influx of rapidly developing, complex and highly interconnected developments targeting digital services feels overwhelming and difficult to stay across, then this alert is aimed at helping you to pause and take stock of recent developments, and the likely direction of travel in the latter part of 2025 following the re-election of the Albanese Government in Australia and the swearing in of a new Minister for Communications, Hon Anika Wells MP.


Contents

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