Australia to let users turn off algorithms; OpenAI bugging suspect arrested in Saudi Arabia

Australia is advancing new "Digital Duty of Care" legislation aimed at giving users greater control over their online experiences. The proposed laws, which include an initiative called "My Feed, My Way," would allow social media users aged 16 and over to opt out of algorithm-driven content feeds, choosing instead to see posts only from accounts they actively follow. Companies failing to comply with these regulations could face significant fines exceeding A$100 million. The legislation, introduced to parliament around October 14, 2026, also mandates enhanced protections for minors against harmful content and addictive design features. A contentious provision allowing ministerial power to ban certain content was removed, with future content additions requiring parliamentary approval.

Separately, an OpenAI engineer, Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, a Saudi national, was arrested on October 9, 2026, in San Francisco, California, on suspicion of attempting to intercept oral communications. Federal prosecutors charged Alfozan after a covert audio recording device was discovered concealed in an executive conference room at OpenAI's headquarters on September 30, 2026. Authorities also found a second recording device in a bag Alfozan left unattended. The FBI is investigating the incident as a national security matter, given the sensitive nature of the "super intelligence" technology developed by OpenAI. Alfozan had reportedly booked a one-way flight to Saudi Arabia prior to his arrest.