Reddit fights Australia's social media ban

Summary

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Marketplace Morning Report – December 12, 2025

Episode Title: Reddit Fights Australia's Social Media Ban
Host: William Lee Adams (Marketplace/BBC World Service)

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Overview

This episode centers around Reddit’s legal battle against Australia’s new law banning social media for users under 16. Alongside this major development, the show covers a range of notable business and world news: U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan oil, economic trends in the UK and Asia, a controversy over Machu Picchu tourism funds, and a French video game sweeping the Game Awards.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reddit’s Legal Challenge to Australia’s Social Media Ban

[00:46 – 01:49]

• Reddit has filed a lawsuit challenging Australia’s social media ban for under-16s, which took effect just two days prior.

• The law currently covers 10 platforms and has already prompted legal action not just by Reddit, but also by teenagers directly affected.

• The Australian government anticipated lawsuits and asserts it's acting in parents’ interests.

• Central Debate: Who holds primary responsibility for protecting children online – platforms, government, or parents?

  Quote:

  • “The government... said repeatedly that it’s not going to be threatened by these legal challenges. It will fight in the courts that it’s on the side of the parents, not the platforms.”
    — Katie Watson, [01:24]

2. U.S. Sanctions on Venezuela and New Actions at Sea

[01:49 – 02:30]

• The U.S. imposed sanctions on ships transporting Venezuelan oil and individuals with ties to President Maduro.
• These sanctions follow the recent seizure of a tanker and U.S. confirmation that it will claim the oil aboard.
• A sharp escalation: President Trump signals possible land strikes against alleged traffickers, while attacks on boats have resulted in dozens of deaths off Venezuela’s coast.

3. Business & Economic Updates

• UK Economy Contracts

  • The UK’s GDP shrank by 0.1% in October, partly due to ongoing disruptions from a Jaguar Land Rover cyberattack.
    [02:30 – 02:42]

• Sumitomo’s Investment in India

  • Japanese firm Sumitomo will invest $1.3 billion in renewable energy in India, betting on industrial demand.
    [02:42 – 02:50]

• Crypto Scandal: Do Kwon Sentenced

  • South Korea’s Do Kwon, ex-CEO of Terraform Labs, receives 15 years in U.S. prison after a $40 billion crypto collapse.
    [02:50 – 03:01]

4. FIFA World Cup Ticket Price Backlash

[03:01 – 03:22]

• Supporter groups call FIFA's ticket prices for the next World Cup “a monumental betrayal.”
• Football Supporters Europe is “astonished” by the “extortionate” costs faced by fans.

5. Machu Picchu: Local vs. National Benefits from Tourism

[03:39 – 06:13]

• Despite drawing 1.5 million annual tourists, proceeds from ticket sales to Machu Picchu largely flow to Peru’s Ministry of Culture, not the local community.

• Mayor Elvis La Torre stresses that only 10% stays locally, funding basic services, while 90% is directed to the Ministry.

  Quote:

  • “Around 95% of our economy comes from tourism.”
    — Elvis La Torre, [03:58]

  • “90% of all ticket sales go to the Ministry of Culture. 10% stay here in the district and are spent on security, health, education, and keeping things clean.”
    — Elvis La Torre, [04:12]

• Calls grow for a greater share to support local infrastructure and tourist services.

• Carlos Gonzalez, head of the regional tourism chamber, laments that just 7% ($5 million/year) is used for site preservation; the rest covers government payroll.

  Quote:

  • “Only 7% of that money... goes to the preservation of the site. And the rest... goes to the Ministry of Culture, and it is used primarily for paying payrolls.”
    — Carlos Gonzalez, [05:12]

• Political instability and frequent leadership changes in Peru make reform difficult, but local leaders vow to continue pressing for change.

6. Game Awards: French Indie Game Triumphs

[06:24 – 07:04]

• “Clair Expedition 33,” by France’s Sandvall Interactive, won nine Game Awards in Los Angeles, including Game of the Year.

• The game, made by a small team, has built a dedicated worldwide fan base, receiving praise even from the French president.

  Quote:

  • “People really reacted strongly to all the passion we put into this game. ...We poured everything of us into this game. And I think that people felt that.”
    — Guillaume Broche (CEO, Sandvall Interactive), [06:47]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The government... will fight in the courts that it’s on the side of the parents, not the platforms.” — Katie Watson, [01:24]

• “Around 95% of our economy comes from tourism.” — Elvis La Torre, Mayor of Machu Picchu, [03:58]

• “Only 7% of that money... goes to the preservation of the site.” — Carlos Gonzalez, [05:12]

• “People really reacted strongly to all the passion we put into this game... We poured everything of us into this game.” — Guillaume Broche, [06:47]

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• [00:46] — Reddit’s lawsuit against Australia’s social media ban
• [01:09] — Previous teenager legal challenge & government response
• [01:49] — U.S. sanctions and military action in Venezuela
• [02:30] — UK economic figures, Japan’s investment in India, Do Kwon sentencing
• [03:01] — FIFA ticket price outcry
• [03:39] — Machu Picchu tourism and local vs. national financial tension
• [06:24] — French video game wins at Game Awards
• [06:47] — CEO on the emotional impact behind their game’s success

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Summary

This fast-paced episode provides a snapshot of global news, highlighting how legal, economic, and cultural developments intersect worldwide. The lead story questions the right balance between protecting the young and preserving digital rights, while subsequent segments capture controversies over resource allocation, sanctions, global markets, fans’ rights, and creative triumphs.

The reporting maintains a curious and engaged tone, inviting listeners to weigh complex issues—whether about online freedoms, tourism’s local impact, or the spirit driving creative industries.

Transcript

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[William Lee Adams]

Reddit Fights Australia's Social Media Ban Live from the UK this is the Marketplace Morning report from the BBC World Service. I'm William Lee Adams. Good morning. Reddit has filed a lawsuit calling for Australia's social media ban for under 16s to be declared invalid. The text based forum is one of 10 online platforms covered by the ban, which came into force on Wednesday. From Sydney, here's Katie Watson.

[Katie Watson]

This is the second high court challenge that the government's faced. Just last month, two teenagers also launched a legal challenge against this bill. And it's just, what, two days after the law came into force? But of course, I think, you know, the government was bracing itself for these legal challenges. The government has said repeatedly that it's not going to be threatened by these legal challenges. It will fight in the courts that it's on the side of the parents, not the platforms. But it's of course a law that's caused a lot of discussion about how best to protect young people, but also how to go about it and who's responsible for protecting the children. Is it the platforms? Is it the government? Is it the parents?

[William Lee Adams]

Katie Watson the United States has imposed new sanctions on the six ships it says are carrying Venezuelan oil, as well as more individuals connected to President Nicolas Maduro. It comes a day after US Forces seized a tanker off the coast of Venezuela. The White House has since confirmed it will take the oil from the vessel. President Trump has suggested that the US May start striking alleged drugs traffickers on land. US Forces have been attacking boats off Venezuela's coast for months, killing dozens of people. Okay, let's do the numbers. The UK economy unexpectedly shrank by 0.1% in October. Among other pressures, the cyber attack at Jaguar Land Rover continued to affect car production. And Japan's Sumitomo said it will invest invest $1.3 billion into renewable power projects in India. It hopes to take advantage of growing demand from major industrial users. The South Korean cryptocurrency boss Do Kwon has been sentenced to 15 years in prison in the United States after his fraud conviction following the failure of his company Terraform Labs. It attracted huge funding with its so called stablecoins, but wiped out $40 billion of investors money when it collapsed in 2022. Soccer's world governing body, FIFA, is facing calls to halt some ticket sales for the next Football World cup after fans branded high prices a monumental betrayal. Football Supporters Europe, a fan association, said it was astonished by what it called the extortionate cost imposed on dedicated supporters. Peru is home to Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca city in the Andes mountains. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site which attracts around 1.5 million visitors every year, making it very lucrative for the Peruvian government, which receives most of the ticket money. But there are conflicts about how that money is being spent and whether it's benefiting the tourists and the locals. The BBC's Jane Chambers reports from Peru.

[Jane Chambers]

Tourists come here from all over the world and stay in hotels, eat at the restaurants and buy local souvenirs. They're a major source of income for the town, as the mayor of Machu Picchu district, Elvis La Torde explains. We're in his office just off the main square where tourists pose for selfies by the fountain.

[Elvis La Torre]

Around 95% of our economy comes from tourism.

[Jane Chambers]

A general adult ticket to Machu Picchu costs around $45, but the mayor says the money ends up elsewhere.

[Elvis La Torre]

And 90% of all ticket sales go to the Ministry of Culture. 10% stay here in the district and are spent on things like security, health, education and keeping things clean.

[Jane Chambers]

He wants the allocation of money to change.

[Elvis La Torre]

We want to receive a bigger percentage of the money and for it to stay here in the Cusco region so that we can improve services for tourists here in Machu Picchu and in the rest of the region.

[Jane Chambers]

I contacted Peru's Ministry of Culture for a response to the comments made by Mayor Elvis La Torre, but haven't had a reply. The train to and from Aguascalientes is a magical journey through lush tropical landscapes with the brightly colored flowers and snow capped mountains in the distance. Back in the former capital of the Inca empire, Cusco, I meet Carlos Gonzalez, the president of the Chamber of Tourism for the region. Like the mayor, he's also not happy about how the ticket money is currently spent by the Ministry of Culture.

[Carlos Gonzalez]

The sad part is only 7% of that money, so we're talking about $5 million per year, goes to the preservation of the site. And the rest, the largest sum and 93% of goes to the Ministry of Culture, and it is used primarily for paying payrolls.

[Jane Chambers]

He wants the Ministry of Tourism to be in charge instead of the Ministry of Culture because he thinks they can provide a better service. But he admits it's difficult for him to get the change he wants. Peru's suffering from political instability, with a high turnover of presidents and ministers. General elections will take place in April next year.

[Carlos Gonzalez]

I've been a leader of the tourism sector for five years now. I've lost count how many ministers, vice ministers and congresspeople I've spoken to. But we cannot cease to exert that pressure from the private sector. Otherwise, things are going to remain the same.

[Jane Chambers]

For now, the conflict continues about how to make the most of Peru's most popular tourist destination, the magnificent Machu Picchu. I'm the BBC's Jane Chambers for Marketplace.

[William Lee Adams]

And finally, the French independent video Game Clair Expedition 33 has swept the board at the Game Awards in Los Angeles. Los Angeles, winning nine prizes, including Game of the Year. Made by a small team. Clair Obscure has developed a devoted following since its release in April, with France's president among its fans. Guillaume Broche is the chief executive of Sandvall Interactive, the team behind the game.

[Guillaume Broche]

I think that's what I find really beautiful, is that people really reacted strongly to all the passion we put into this game. Like it's really a game that comes from the heart and from the soul. And we poured everything of us into this game. And I think that people felt that. And I'm surprised still today at how much they resonated with that.

[William Lee Adams]

That's Guillaume Broche. And that is all for today in the uk I'm William Lee Adams with the Marketplace morning Report from the BBC World Service. On behalf of the entire team, have a great day.

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