Greens Offer Australians Right to Sue Big Tech – Because Who Doesn’t Want a Legal Reprieve from Meta’s $25 B Scandal?

The Greens want ordinary Australians to be able to take Big Tech to court, and they’re pointing straight at the $25 billion payout Meta was forced to make in the United States as proof that legal pressure works.

In the latest digital safety overhaul, spearheaded by MP Anika Wells, the Greens are lobbying for a private right to sue to be inserted into the bill. If passed, any citizen could bring a civil claim against a technology company for breaches of privacy or data‑misuse.

The party argues that the only way to make the biggest platforms behave is to give people a real legal stick, rather than relying solely on regulators. The proposal is framed as a direct nod to the US model that forced Meta to cough up $25 billion.

Critics say the measure may be generous, but the Greens maintain that giving Australians a private right of action is a necessary step toward stronger digital safety.