The Australian government on Wednesday defended its world-first law banning social media for under-16s before the High Court also describing the measure as a "modest" and necessary effort to protect children's mental and physical health online.
The government faced a constitutional legal challenge brought by Reddit and a libertarian advocacy group. The plaintiffs argue that the law disproportionately restricts political expression and violates constitutionally protected speech for minors.
Addressing a seven-judge panel on the second day of hearings, government lawyer Stephen Lloyd rejected the challenge. He stated that the law imposes only an indirect and modest burden also noting that minors can still access public online content without an account. Lloyd emphasized that the regulation is viewpoint-neutral and targets platforms rather than individual users.
Under the legislation, children and parents face no penalties. However the social media platforms face fines of up to A$99 million ($69 million) for systemic non-compliance.
Despite the ban studies by Australia's eSafety Commissioner show that many teenagers continue to access social media. Government officials acknowledged enforcement challenges related to age-verification technology but insisted the law remains a crucial safeguard.
The High Court's ruling will carry significant global implications as several nations consider similar legislation to regulate youth digital media access.
