Reddit, the popular social media platform, has lodged a legal challenge in Australia’s High Court against the recent prohibition on individuals under the age of 16 from accessing social media. This move represents the first major global tech company to contest the ban that was implemented just two days ago, according to a report by Reuters.
In its formal submission to the court, Reddit asserts that the law violates the implied right to free political communication safeguarded by the Australian Constitution. The company argues that restricting young individuals from participating in online political discussions is unconstitutional, particularly as these users will soon reach voting age. Reddit also asserts that it should be exempt from the ban as it does not meet the legal criteria defining a social media platform.
As reported by Reuters, Australian Communications Minister Anika Wells affirmed that the government is resolute in safeguarding young Australians from potential harm on social media. Health Minister Mark Butler accused Reddit of prioritizing its financial interests, likening the lawsuit to strategies historically employed by the tobacco industry to resist regulation.
The Australian legislation, the first of its kind internationally, mandates ten major platforms to block users under 16 or face fines of up to A$49.5 million. Other platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok have expressed their intention to comply through the utilization of technologies like age estimation. Reddit’s legal challenge, supported by its substantial market capitalization of $44 billion, could set a precedent for similar legal actions from other companies should it succeed, as per the report.