French court blocks Macron’s social media ban for under-15s
Constitutional council says curbs infringe freedom of expression and privacy as president vows to rework legislation France’s top court has blocked a ban on social media access for under-15s, ruling that it infringed freedom of expression and privacy. The decision is a blow to President Emmanuel Macron as momentum builds around the world for Australian-style restrictions on children’s use of…
France's Constitutional Council has rejected President Emmanuel Macron's proposed ban on social media access for children under 15, ruling that it infringes on freedom of expression and privacy rights. The decision comes as other nations worldwide consider similar restrictions, including Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the UK.
The law, approved by parliament in July, would have barred under-15s from creating social media accounts starting September 1, while also requiring platforms to close existing accounts within four months and implement age-verification tools approved by France's privacy regulator. However, the council found that the law did not specify the "conditions and limits" for age verification, and that the restrictions disproportionately infringe upon freedom of expression and privacy.
Several countries have adopted or are considering similar measures, while the EU plans to strengthen protections for children on social media. Tech companies generally oppose blanket bans, stating they already have protections in place for younger users. Macron, who previously encouraged teenagers to limit their social media use, has asked the prime minister to revise the legislation to address the council's concerns.
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- French court blocks Macron’s social media ban for under-15s theguardian.com
