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Reddit Sues Over Australia’s Under‑16 Social Media Ban

The filing says the ban burdens political communication, with Reddit also asserting it is misclassified under the law.

Overview

  • Reddit lodged a High Court application seeking to invalidate the Social Media Minimum Age law or to be excluded from the list of covered platforms.
  • The company says it has implemented age‑assurance measures and will comply during the legal process, calling the statute intrusive and ineffective.
  • The challenge argues the law infringes Australia’s implied freedom of political communication and forces privacy‑risking verification on adults and teens.
  • The eSafety Commissioner has issued compulsory information notices to all 10 named services to report under‑16 account removals, with periodic checks to follow.
  • A separate case by the Digital Freedom Project on behalf of two 15‑year‑olds is already before the courts, with a preliminary hearing set for late February.