French high schools struggle to implement Macron's mobile phone ban

Fournier highlighted practical difficulties, noting that many high school students rely on smartphone apps for crucial daily information such as timetables, room changes, and homework. Some even use apps for essential functions like canteen access or library borrowing. He also pointed out that some older students, including those in higher education or apprenticeships, might need their phones for work-related purposes.

The debate also touches on student autonomy, with Fournier suggesting that older teenagers, some of whom are nearing voting age, should be consulted rather than treated as children. The precise enforcement of the ban, including its scope across school grounds, remains a key decision for individual institutions, with potential security and road safety implications if students leave campus to use their phones.

This initiative follows a setback for Macron's digital agenda, as a proposed social media ban for under-15s was recently struck down by France's constitutional council due to concerns over its broad definition of social media and potential privacy infringements. The government is reportedly working to redraft this law, while legal experts question the balance between European and French constitutional law in such regulations.