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 ruled against President Emmanuel Macron's proposed ban on social media access for children under 15, citing infringements on freedom of expression and privacy. The ruling dashes Macron's plans to enforce age restrictions and requires tech platforms to close existing accounts for minors within four months, along with implementing age-verification tools approved by France's privacy regulator.
Despite global momentum for such restrictions, the French court found that the law's approach to age verification was inadequate and disproportionate. Several countries, including Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the UK, have already introduced or plan to implement age-restrictive measures. The EU is also pushing for stronger protections for children on social media.
Macron, keen on reform, asked the French Prime Minister for assistance in amending the legislation, but remains committed to implementing the changes before the 2027 presidential election.
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- French court blocks Macron’s social media ban for under-15s theguardian.com
