MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Global online forum Reddit has initiated a court challenge against Australia's pioneering law aimed at prohibiting children under 16 from holding accounts on major social media platforms. The legal action, filed in the High Court on Friday, follows a similar case from the Digital Freedom Project, a Sydney-based rights organization, which was submitted last month.
Both Reddit and the Digital Freedom Project assert that the law violates the implied freedom of political communication within Australia. Reddit argues that while it recognizes the significance of protecting minors, the Social Media Minimum Age (SMMA) law creates severe privacy concerns and hampers political expression for all internet users. In a statement, the company emphasized that there are more efficient methods for the government to achieve shared objectives regarding youth protection.
Reddit raised specific concerns regarding the implications of the law, asserting that it would compel both adults and minors to undergo intrusive and potentially unsafe verification processes. Furthermore, the platform warned that the legislation would alienate teenagers from participating in age-appropriate community engagements, including political discussions. They criticized the law for creating an inconsistent landscape regarding which platforms would be included in the legislation and which would not.
Under the new regulation, popular platforms like Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, and Twitch face substantial penalties, potentially up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (approximately $32.9 million) from Wednesday if they do not take adequate measures to remove accounts belonging to Australian children younger than 16.
Julie Inman Grant, Australia's eSafety Commissioner and the law's enforcer, sent out compulsory information notices to the ten age-restricted platforms on Thursday, requesting data on the number of accounts belonging to young children that have been deactivated since the law's enactment. Inman Grant had anticipated that some platforms might be delaying legal challenges until they received their initial notice or fine for noncompliance.
Inman Grant's office plans to issue six-monthly notices to monitor the effectiveness of the platforms in adhering to the new regulations. Despite filing the court challenge, Reddit has indicated its intent to comply with the law and maintain engagement with eSafety officials.
Legal documents submitted to the court registry reveal that Reddit will request a ruling from the seven High Court judges declaring the law invalid, or alternatively, to prevent the government from listing Reddit among the age-restricted platforms. A preliminary hearing in the High Court is set for late February, where schedules for the Digital Freedom Project's case on behalf of two 15-year-olds will also be discussed. It remains unclear if the two legal challenges will be processed together in court.
Rod McGuirk, The Associated Press
