Reddit says the federal government’s new under-16 ban on social media goes further than Parliament ever intended and is “legally erroneous,” as the platform prepares to enforce the policy from Dec. 10.
Young Australians will be locked out of services including YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat as the age limit begins, with Reddit and streaming platform Kick added to the “dynamic” list only weeks ago.
As per a media report published in the Australian Financial Review, Reddit has briefed barrister Perry Herzfeld SC to challenge the ban with support from Thomson Geer, a Sydney-based law firm.
A spokesperson did not confirm nor deny whether there was an impending legal challenge, simply saying: “The only decision we’ve made is to comply with the law.”
The Epoch Times has also reached out to Thomson Geer.
Reddit Publicly States Its Objections
The company published a detailed note to Australian users on Dec. 9 morning outlining how accounts will be shut down or restricted while criticising the scope of the law.
“By limiting account eligibility and putting identity tests on internet usage, this law undermines everyone’s right to both free expression and privacy, as well as account-specific protections,” the message said.
“We also believe the law’s application to Reddit (a pseudonymous, text-based forum overwhelmingly used by adults) is arbitrary, legally erroneous, and goes far beyond the original intent of the Australian parliament, especially when other obvious platforms are exempt.”
Under its compliance plan, Australians signing up will have to enter a birthdate, and all users will be analysed by an “age prediction model.”
If the system concludes a user might be under 16, the account will be suspended unless the person appeals and proves their age.
Teenagers under 18 will be placed into a restricted environment that removes mature and not-safe-for-work content and tightens messaging settings.
