High Court hears legal fight over Australia's under-16 social media ban
Two groups challenge the constitutionality of the law that restricts children from using major online platforms.
By Daniela Ortega ·
The High Court of Australia began hearing two legal challenges to the nation's ban on social media accounts for children under 16 on Tuesday. The seven judges are reviewing the constitutionality of the law, which took effect last year. The legislation restricts access to Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Kick, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, and Twitch for young users.
The Digital Freedom Project, a rights group based in Sydney, filed the first challenge. The group argues the law violates an implied constitutional right to freedom of political communication. They claim the ban improperly removes this right from millions of young Australians.
Reddit, a U.S.-based online forum, filed the second challenge. The platform contends the ban raises issues regarding privacy and political expression. Reddit also argues it should not be classified in the same category as the other banned social media services.
The hearings are scheduled to conclude on Wednesday. Two Sydney teenagers, Noah Jones and Macy Neyland, were originally included as plaintiffs in the Digital Freedom Project case filed last year. Legal representatives removed the pair from the case due to concerns they might be liable for costs if the suit failed.
Noah Jones, who is now 16 and no longer covered by the ban, spoke to reporters outside the court. He described the legislation as a step toward censorship masked as child safety. “I believe that this is just a stepping stone further and further to censorship and I think they’ve masked it as this form of child safety,
Source: WKMG-TV · original report published
