France: Top watchdog blocks social media ban for children
Denying access to platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and YouTube for under-15s would infringe upon freedom of expression, the Constitutional Council has said.
France's Constitutional Council blocked a social media ban for children under 15, deeming it a violation of freedom of expression. The law, championed by President Emmanuel Macron, prohibited minors from accessing certain online services and required age verification for all users. French lawmakers approved the legislation last month, with platforms given until early 2027 to remove existing children's accounts.
The council found the law lacked clear rules on age verification and age-appropriate limits, prompting President Macron to instruct Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to revise the bill. Australia and other countries, including the EU, have also announced plans to consider similar bans for under-16s.
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- France's top court blocks social media ban for under-15s economictimes.indiatimes.com
- France's top court blocks under-15 social media ban, citing constitutional freedoms pbs.org
- France's top court blocks social media ban for under 15s rte.ie
- France: Top watchdog blocks social media ban for children dw.com
- France's top court blocks social media ban for under-15s bbc.co.uk
- France's Top Court Blocks Under-15 Social Media Ban, Cites Free Speech ndtv.com
