Social media ban for under-15s in France blocked by Constitutional Council
The Constitutional Council has blocked the regulation that would have imposed a social media ban on children under 15, citing concerns over freedom of expression and age verification safeguards.
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In France, a regulation aimed at banning children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms has been blocked by the Constitutional Council. The high court ruled that the bill could not be implemented on the grounds that it violates freedom of expression.
The decision emphasized that banning those under 15 from accessing certain online services would affect not only children but all users, including adults. According to the court, such a system would require everyone wishing to access social media services to prove their age.
The Constitutional Council also assessed that the conditions and limits regarding the age verification process were not sufficiently clearly defined in the bill. The decision stated that the legislature had failed to establish the necessary legal safeguards in this area.
According to a statement from the Élysée Palace, President Emmanuel Macron has instructed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to redraft the bill, taking into account the concerns raised by the Constitutional Council. It was reported that Macron wants the regulation to come into effect before the presidential elections to be held in the spring of 2027.
French lawmakers had previously passed the bill banning children under 15 from accessing social media platforms. Had the regulation come into force, France would have been the first country in Europe to take such a step.
The initiative in France had come to the agenda following Australia's decision to restrict children's social media use. In December, Australia implemented a regulation banning social media use for those under 16, becoming one of the first examples in the world in this field.