Message board website Reddit on Friday filed a lawsuit in Australia’s highest court seeking to overturn the country’s social media ban for children, calling it an intrusion on free political discourse and setting the stage for a protracted legal battle.
The San Francisco-based firm, which ranks Australia among its biggest markets, said in a High Court filing that the ban should be declared invalid because it interfered with free political communication implied by the country’s constitution.
The document argued that Reddit should not be subject to the ban, even if upheld by the court, as it does not meet the definition of social media. The lawsuit, naming the Commonwealth of Australia and Communications Minister Anika Wells as defendants, was filed two days after the world's first nationwide ban on social media access for individuals under 16 was enacted. This marks the second legal challenge, following a lawsuit filed last month by two teenagers from an Australian libertarian organization.
However, the move by a major Silicon Valley company with a market capitalization of $44 billion significantly boosts the resources available to sustain a prolonged legal battle. If Reddit succeeds, it could pave the way for other platforms to pursue similar legal challenges.
On December 10, Australia introduced the world’s first legally enforced age limit for social media access. Reddit and other platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok opposed the measure for over a year before agreeing to comply. The law requires platforms to block underage users or face fines up to A$49.5 million, but does not penalize users or their caregivers.
Reddit, however, argues that the law infringes on privacy and political expression, especially since it could limit political discourse for young Australians. The company has filed a court application to challenge the law, citing concerns about its impact on future voters.