Politics · World News Bureau
Rights group mounts High Court challenge to Australia's teen social media ban
Civil liberties advocates are preparing to argue before Australia's highest court that the nation's landmark legislation restricting social media access for under-16s violates fundamental rights to free communication. The legal challenge tests whether the sweeping policy can withstand constitutional scrutiny.
LSN World News ·
A leading rights organisation is set to challenge Australia's world-first social media ban for children under 16 in the High Court, arguing the legislation infringes on young people's constitutional right to freedom of communication. The case marks the first major legal test of the government's controversial policy, which became law in late 2024 and represents one of the strictest age-verification schemes globally. The plaintiffs contend that the blanket prohibition on social media platforms for minors goes beyond what is necessary to protect children and unjustifiably restricts their ability to communicate and access information. Australia's government has defended the legislation as essential to safeguard young people from the harms associated with social media use, including mental health risks and exposure to harmful content. Legal observers say the High Court case will have significant implications not only for Australia's approach to social media regulation but potentially for other nations considering similar restrictions on digital platform access for minors.