France Top Court Stops Macron’s Social Media Ban For Under-15s, Cites Free Speech, Privacy Concerns | Sahara Reporters

Under the proposed law, children younger than 15 would have been prohibited from opening social media accounts from September 1, while existing accounts belonging to underage users would have been closed within four months.

France’s Constitutional Council has struck down a law that would have barred children under the age of 15 from accessing social media, ruling that key provisions of the legislation violated constitutional protections for freedom of expression and privacy.

The decision, according to Reuters, delivered on Friday, deals a significant setback to President Emmanuel Macron, who had championed the legislation as part of broader efforts to protect children from the harmful effects of excessive social media use.

Under the proposed law, children younger than 15 would have been prohibited from opening social media accounts from September 1, while existing accounts belonging to underage users would have been closed within four months.

The legislation also required social media platforms to verify users’ ages using systems approved by France’s data protection regulator before granting access to their services.

However, the Constitutional Council ruled that the legislation failed to adequately define how age verification would be carried out and lacked sufficient safeguards to protect users’ fundamental rights.

In its judgement, the court held that the law imposed disproportionate restrictions on constitutional freedoms.

“The Council holds that the contested provisions, on the one hand, disproportionately infringe upon the freedom of expression and communication and, on the other, fail to provide the legal safeguards necessary to ensure the right to respect for private life,” the court said as quoted by Reuters.

The ruling effectively prevents the law from taking effect in its current form.

French lawmakers had passed the bill in July, making France the first European country to approve such sweeping restrictions after Australia introduced a similar measure barring children under 16 from accessing platforms including Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.

Australian authorities are, however, reportedly considering tougher enforcement measures after initial data showed mixed results following implementation of the ban.

Following Friday’s ruling, Macron directed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to revise the legislation in line with the Constitutional Council’s concerns.

According to a statement issued by the Élysée Palace, the French president remains determined to have the legislation enacted before the country’s next presidential election in the spring of 2027.

Macron, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term, has repeatedly warned about the effects of excessive screen time on young people.

In April, he urged French teenagers to reduce their dependence on smartphones and social media, encouraging them instead to read books in order to become “better citizens.”

The proposed legislation forms part of a growing international trend as governments seek stricter regulation of children’s access to social media.

Countries including China, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey have either introduced restrictions on minors’ social media use or announced plans to do so.

The European Union has also indicated that it is considering stronger safeguards to shield children from harmful features embedded in social media platforms.

Major technology companies have generally opposed blanket age-based bans, arguing that existing parental controls, age restrictions and safety measures are more effective than outright prohibitions.

Although companies such as Google, Meta, Snap and TikTok have previously stated they would comply with laws enacted by governments, they have consistently argued against universal restrictions.

None of the companies immediately commented following Friday’s court ruling.

SaharaReporters had reported on June 15 that the United Kingdom announced what it described as one of the world’s toughest online child-protection policies by introducing a nationwide ban on social media access for children under the age of 16.

The British government said the policy was aimed at tackling rising cases of mental health problems, cyberbullying and online exploitation among minors.

Announcing the policy in a video message shared on his official X account, then British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the government was prepared to confront major technology companies to enforce the law and “give children their childhoods back.”

Drawing from his personal experience as a father, Starmer said modern technology had fundamentally changed childhood and exposed young people to unprecedented online risks.

“Every parent wants the best for their kids, and that’s what being a parent means,” Starmer said.

“The response from parents has been absolutely clear. Thousands say their children are addicted to social media. It can leave them trapped in a cycle of endless scrolling that displaces play, sleep and time with family. It can harm their mental health. Frankly, parents need our support on this.”

France’s court ruling is expected to influence similar legislative efforts across Europe, where governments continue to balance child protection objectives against constitutional guarantees of free expression, privacy and digital rights.