The Digital Freedom Project announced on Wednesday that it has initiated proceedings in the High Court of Australia in an attempt to halt the implementation of the law, with two 15-year-olds, Noah Jones and Macy Neyland, serving as plaintiffs in the case.
Over one million accounts belonging to teenagers under the age of 16 are slated to be deactivated in Australia once the ban on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, and Meta’s Facebook and Instagram goes into effect on December 10.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, the Digital Freedom Project argued that the law infringes on young Australians’ freedom of political communication, which is an implied right in the constitution since Australia does not have an explicit right to free speech.
Neyland expressed concerns that the law would silence young people from expressing their opinions online, likening the situation to George Orwell’s novel “1984.”
The president of the Digital Freedom Project, John Ruddick, a member of the Libertarian Party in the New South Wales state Parliament, is leading the legal challenge.
Following news of the legal action, Communications Minister Anika Wells assured Parliament that the government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, would not be swayed by threats and legal challenges.
YouTube has also reportedly threatened to challenge the law in the High Court, citing concerns about how it impacts political communication.
Governments and tech companies worldwide are closely monitoring Australia’s efforts to enforce the ban, which is one of the most extensive initiatives to regulate minors’ access to social media.
The ban was officially passed into law in November 2024 and enjoys majority support among Australians, according to opinion polls.
The government contends that excessive social media use is negatively impacting young teenagers by promoting misinformation, facilitating bullying, and perpetuating harmful body image stereotypes.
Companies that fail to comply with the ban could face penalties of up to $A49.5 million ($56.7 million).
