Online forum platform Reddit has filed a legal challenge in the High Court over its inclusion in Australia's social media ban laws.
Reddit is one of 10 platforms that must restrict Australian users aged under 16 from creating or holding accounts under the world-first laws, which came into effect on Wednesday.
The United States-based company said earlier this week it would comply with the legislation but argued that it believed its application to Reddit was "arbitrary" and "legally erroneous".
In a lawsuit filed on Friday morning seeking to overturn its inclusion, the company argued it should be exempt from the list of banned platforms because it is "not an age-restricted app" and that the law "infringes the implied freedom of political communication".
In a statement, Reddit said the law had been applied inaccurately, as it was "a forum primarily for adults and we don't have the traditional social media features the government has taken issue with".
In pushing the reforms, the government has said the laws were aimed at protecting young people from the harms of social media use.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said during a press conference on Wednesday that the legislation would make an "enormous difference" that would allow Australian children to "have their childhood".
In its court filing, Reddit said it agreed with the importance of protecting people under 16, but the law had the "unfortunate effect of forcing intrusive and potentially insecure verification processes on adults as well as minors".
Under the legislation, impacted platforms must take "reasonable steps" to prevent Australians under the age of 16 from holding an account, and face fines of up to $49.5 million if they don't.
Platforms can choose how they verify users' ages, but the government has said requesting ID can't be the only method.
In addition to Reddit, the legislation also affects Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X and YouTube.
The company said it was not challenging the law to avoid compliance, and that it had implemented age-verification methods.
Reddit also argued on Friday that the law was "creating an illogical patchwork of which platforms are included and which aren't".
Earlier this week, the company said there were "obvious platforms" that were exempt from the ban.
Reddit's lawsuit marks the second legal challenge in the High Court to the laws.
A case filed by NSW Libertarian MP John Ruddick's Digital Freedom Project group is arguing the laws restrict the implied right to freedom of political communication.
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