France's top court blocks social media ban for under-15s

France's highest court has ruled against a ban on social media for individuals under the age of 15, deeming it a violation of freedom of expression. The legislation, introduced by French lawmakers in July, aimed to protect children's mental health from potential harmful effects of social media. However, the Constitutional Council's Friday ruling has overruled this ban, which President Emmanuel Macron had pledged to implement in stages beginning in September.

In response, Macron immediately instructed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to draft a new version incorporating the council's recommendations. The council stated that Article 1 of the law infringes upon freedom of expression and communication for under-15s, deeming it neither appropriate, necessary, nor proportionate. The ruling also criticized the law's requirement for proof of age to access online services, stating it failed to establish necessary legal safeguards.

The French government has pledged to expedite the creation of a new draft and aims to have the reform in place by early 2027.