Australia: Digital Services Regulation – 2025 Year-End Wrap-Up

In brief

Regulation of digital services has remained at the forefront of the Albanese Government’s agenda in the latter stages of 2025. From the high-profile implementation of the Government’s “Implementation of Social Media Minimum Age” (SMMA) requirements on 10 December 2025, to the consultation on a new digital duty of care, the pace of regulatory development has shown no signs of slowing. This alert recaps key developments from late 2025 to help you catch up on a busy few months, including:

1. Implementation of Social Media Minimum Age (SMMA)
2. Implementation of Phase 2 Online Safety Codes
3. Digital duty of care
4. Australian content on streaming services
5. News Bargaining Incentive
6. Scams Prevention Framework
7. Children’s Online Privacy Code

For other developments relevant to digital services, please also see our Technology page.

Download the full "Australia: Digital Services Regulation – 2025 Year-End Wrap-Up".

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Kirsten Foley, Maxine Betty, Associates, Renata Beris, Trainee, and Sophie Nankivell, Summer Clerk, have contributed to this legal update.