Digital Freedom Project files High Court challenge against Australia’s world-first social media ban for under-16s, citing free speech concerns.
SYDNEY: An internet rights group has launched a legal challenge against Australia’s world-first laws banning under-16s from social media platforms.
The Digital Freedom Project filed the case in Australia’s High Court alongside two 15-year-old plaintiffs ahead of the ban’s December 10 implementation.
“This ban is a direct assault on young people’s right to freedom of political communication,” the group stated.
The organisation argued the legislation unfairly restricts millions of young Australians from accessing the “modern town square”.
“We are the true digital natives and we want to remain educated, robust, and savvy in our digital world,” said plaintiff Noah Jones.
He expressed disappointment in “a lazy government that blanket bans under-16s rather than investing in programs to help kids be safe on social media”.
Australia’s Communications Minister Anika Wells declared the government would not retreat from its position.
“We will not be intimidated by threats,” Wells told parliament on Wednesday.
“We will not be intimidated by legal challenges. We will not be intimidated by big tech.”
Instagram alone reports approximately 350,000 Australian users aged 13 to 15 who would be affected by the ban.
Meta has already begun deactecting accounts based on creation information including user-provided age data.
The ban covers Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and streaming platforms Kick and Twitch.
Currently exempt platforms include Roblox, Pinterest and WhatsApp, though this list remains under review.
Social media companies previously described the laws as “vague”, “problematic” and “rushed”.
The Australian government acknowledges the ban will be imperfect initially as implementation issues are resolved.
Platforms face potential fines of $32 million if they fail to take “reasonable steps” toward compliance.
While the ban ranks among the world’s strictest on paper, experts question its enforceability given online age verification challenges.
