France's Constitutional Council has struck down a bill that would have banned social media access for individuals under 15, citing infringements on freedom of expression and privacy. President Macron has requested a reworked draft.
The ruling prevents France from becoming the first European country to enact a social media age restriction, highlighting the ongoing debate between child protection and freedom of expression online.
France's Constitutional Council has blocked a bill that would have banned social media access for minors under 15 years old, a significant setback for President Emmanuel Macron's policy agenda. The court ruled that the proposed restrictions disproportionately infringed upon minors' rights to freedom of expression and communication, and also failed to implement adequate privacy protections.
The bill, passed by the French Parliament, aimed to protect young users from risks such as addiction, bullying, and abuse. It mandated that social media platforms implement age verification for new accounts starting September 1. However, the court found that the law lacked sufficient distinction between the risks of different platforms and the varying vulnerabilities of minors, and that the age verification process was not sufficiently defined.
The ruling prevents France from becoming the first European country to enact such a social media age restriction. President Macron has asked the prime minister to rework the legislation to address the constitutional council’s concerns and remains determined for the reform to take effect before spring 2027.