Teenagers launch legal challenge over Australia's ban on social media for children
The Digital Freedom Project and two teens argue the ban on under-16 social media accounts infringes on the implied constitutional right to political communication, affecting 2.6 million youths.
- On Wednesday, the Digital Freedom Project filed proceedings in the High Court of Australia challenging the ban on Australians under 16 from Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube.
- Led by John Ruddick, Digital Freedom Project president and New South Wales parliamentarian, the challenge says laws due December 10 are "grossly excessive" and trespass on the implied freedom of political communication.
- Platforms risk fines up to $49.5 million if they fail to comply, while the group says the ban will 'rob' more than 2.5 million young Australians, affecting 2.6 million when enforced.
- Communications Minister Anika Wells said the federal government remains 'firm' in its commitment to implement the laws next month despite limited High Court sitting days and acknowledged the ban is imperfect.
- DFP proposed alternatives and Neyland said the ban risks vulnerable groups, urging digital literacy, age-appropriate features, and privacy-first assurance, as Snapchat enforces restrictions and Google warned YouTube's ban limits political input.
39 Articles
39 Articles
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian government has ruled that its ban on social media access for minors will take effect next month as scheduled, despite a challenge Wednesday from a rights group…
Australia will enforce a social media ban for children under 16 despite a court challenge
The Australian government says children under 16 will be banned from social media next month as scheduled despite a legal challenge. The Sydney-based rights advocate Digital Freedom Project on Wednesday filed a constitutional challenge in the High Court against the…
Australia will enforce under-16 social media ban despite court challenge
MELBOURNE, Australia — The Australian government said young children will be banned from social media next month as scheduled despite a rights advocacy group on Wednesday challenging the world-first legislation in court. The Sydney-based Digital Freedom Project said it had filed a constitutional challenge in the High Court on Wednesday to a law due to take effect on Dec. 10 banning Australian children younger than 16 from holding accounts on spe…
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