Reddit has filed a challenge against Australia\u2019s under-16s social media ban in the high court, lodging its case two days after implementing age restrictions on its website.<\/p>\n
The company said in a Reddit<\/a> post on Friday that while it agreed with protecting people under 16, the law \u201chas the unfortunate effect of forcing intrusive and potentially insecure verification processes on adults as well as minors, isolating teens from the ability to engage in age-appropriate community experiences\u201d.<\/p>\n Reddit said there was an \u201cillogical patchwork\u201d of platforms included in the ban.<\/p>\n \u201cAs the Australian Human Rights Commission put it, \u2018There are less restrictive alternatives available that could achieve the aim of protecting children and young people from online harms, but without having such a significant negative impact on other human rights.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Reddit argued it was a forum primarily for adults without the traditional social media features the government has \u201ctaken issue with\u201d.<\/p>\n Reddit was challenging the law on the grounds it infringed on the implied freedom of political communication. It was also seeking to challenge whether Reddit could be considered an age-restricted social media platform under the legislation.<\/p>\n It said it was not seeking to challenge the law to avoid compliance, and had implemented age assurance measures since Wednesday.<\/p>\n The company said the vast majority of Redditors were adults, and advertising wasn\u2019t targeted to children under 18. The Apple app store age rating for Reddit is 17+.<\/p>\n \u201cDespite the best intentions, this law is missing the mark on actually protecting young people online,\u201d Reddit said. \u201cSo, while we will comply with this law, we have a responsibility to share our perspective and see that it is reviewed by the courts.\u201d<\/p>\n Reddit\u2019s challenge is separate from one filed by NSW Libertarian MP John Ruddick\u2019s Digital Freedom Project group<\/a>. The next court appearance for Digital Freedom Project group is late February, and Reddit expects it will be heard sometime next year, if the high court takes up the case.<\/p>\n A law that has the effect of reducing the overall volume of political communication in Australia will be invalid unless it is proportionate to a legitimate purpose, constitutional law professor Luke Beck wrote in the Guardian on Thursday<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201c[But] the social media account ban only slightly reduces the overall volume of political communication in Australia,\u201d the Monash University academic said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe law does not ban teenagers from using the internet or having online group chats. It\u2019s likely that in the social media account case \u2026 the government will succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n