Legal challenge to Australia's social media ban to start in High Court
Summary
Australia’s High Court is set to hear two challenges to the country’s ban on social media access for children under 16. The Digital Freedom Project argues the ban limits free communication, while Reddit says it raises privacy and political-rights concerns; the government says the policy protects children.Key Facts
- The hearings are scheduled to begin Tuesday and last two days.
- The ban took effect on 10 December last year.
- Ten platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Reddit, must take reasonable steps to prevent under-16s from accessing their services.
- Platforms can face fines of up to A$99 million for serious or repeated violations.
- No company had been fined since the ban began, according to the article.
- The eSafety Commissioner has opened investigations into alleged non-compliance by Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.
- The Digital Freedom Project filed its constitutional challenge before the ban began; two teen plaintiffs later withdrew from the case.
- WhatsApp, Roblox, Discord, YouTube Kids and Google Classroom are not covered by the ban.
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