Constitutional Council Says Law Violates Freedom of Expression and Privacy 
France’s top constitutional court has blocked a proposed law that would have banned children under 15 from accessing social media, dealing a major setback to President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to strengthen online protections for young people.
The Constitutional Council ruled that the legislation placed a disproportionate restriction on freedom of expression and communication while failing to provide sufficient safeguards for users’ privacy.
The law, approved by French lawmakers in July, would have prevented under-15s from opening social media accounts from September 1. Existing accounts would also have been subject to closure, while platforms would have been required to introduce approved age-verification systems.
Macron Plans to Try Again
Despite the court ruling, Macron has said he remains committed to protecting children online. He has asked Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to prepare a revised version of the legislation that complies with constitutional and European legal requirements.
The decision is likely to fuel a wider debate over how governments can protect children from online harms while also protecting privacy, free expression and access to digital platforms.
France’s setback also comes as several countries consider stricter age limits for social media, following Australia’s pioneering restrictions on younger users.