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France’s highest constitutional authority on Friday struck down the ban on social media for children under 15.
The Constitutional Council ruled that the flagship policy of President Emmanuel Macron’s second term infringed on freedom of expression.
“By prohibiting minors under the age of 15 from accessing certain online services, the law inherently requires every person, even an adult, to prove their age before accessing them,” it said in its decision.
Macron still wants social media ban for children
French lawmakers last month approved legislation that barred children under 15 from opening a social media account from September 1. Beyond that, platforms would have until the start of 2027 to close children’s existing accounts.
The law would also have banned the use of mobile phones in high schools and required social media platforms to introduce age-verification measures in accordance with France’s privacy regulator.
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The Council however found lawmakers had failed to set out clear rules on how people should prove their age and what limits should apply, meaning there were not enough legal safeguards in place.
Macron has instructed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to revise the bill to address the Constitutional Council’s concerns, the Elysee said. It added the president wanted the reform in place before France’s 2027 presidential election.
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