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.
Reddit has briefed barrister Perry Herzfeld SC to challenge the ban with support from Thomson Geer, a Sydney-based law firm, according to the Australian Financial Review.
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.
Ban Facing A Courtroom Battle
Reddit’s move lands as the federal government responds to a separate constitutional challenge brought by two teenagers and the Digital Freedom Project, a group headed by New South Wales Libertarian MLC John Ruddick.
Plaintiffs argue the ban violates implied freedom of communication and may funnel younger users into more dangerous corners of the internet while doing little to stop them in practice.
The High Court action names Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells and eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant. South Australia and New South Wales have already signalled they will intervene to defend the measure, calling the legislation valid and necessary.
The age restriction was introduced to protect children from harmful content and what Wells has called “predatory algorithms.”
AAP contributed to this article
