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

France’s Constitutional Council, the country’s highest constitutional authority, has rejected a proposed law that would have banned children

France’s Constitutional Council, the country’s highest constitutional authority, has rejected a proposed law that would have banned children under the age of 15 from accessing social media. The decision represents a setback for President Emmanuel Macron, who had strongly supported measures aimed at protecting young people from the potential harms of social media.

The proposed legislation would have prevented children below 15 from creating social media accounts from September 1. It also required social media companies to close accounts belonging to existing under-15 users within four months. Platforms would have been required to introduce an age-verification system approved by France’s privacy regulator to determine whether users met the minimum age requirement.

However, the Constitutional Council ruled that important parts of the legislation did not provide sufficient legal safeguards. In particular, the council objected to the requirement that users prove their age without clearly defining the conditions and limits surrounding the collection and use of such information.

According to the council, the legislation placed disproportionate restrictions on freedom of expression and communication. It also failed to adequately protect individuals’ right to privacy. The ruling effectively prevents the law from coming into force in its original form.

French lawmakers had approved the legislation in July, making France one of the first European countries to pursue such a comprehensive restriction on social media use by young teenagers. The move followed Australia’s decision to introduce a world-first social media ban for children under 16 in December. The Australian restrictions cover major platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube. Australian lawmakers are now considering stronger penalties for companies that fail to comply, although early data has indicated that the ban has had mixed results.

Several other countries have also taken steps to restrict young people’s access to social media. China, the United Arab Emirates and Türkiye have introduced measures or discussed plans aimed at limiting children’s access to online platforms.

At the European Union level, authorities have also indicated that stronger protections may be needed to shield children from harmful features and content on social media platforms.

Major technology companies have generallyFrance’s Constitutional Council, the country’s highest constitutional authority, has rejected a proposed law that would have banned children opposed blanket restrictions, arguing that they already provide tools and age-based safeguards to protect younger users. At the same time, companies have indicated that they would follow government regulations where required. Google, Meta, Snap and TikTok had not immediately issued comments on the French court’s decision.

Following the ruling, Macron instructed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to revise the proposed legislation and address the Constitutional Council’s concerns. The Elysee Palace said the French president remains committed to introducing the reform.

The government wants a revised version of the legislation to take effect before spring 2027, when France is scheduled to hold its next presidential election. Macron is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term, making the issue a significant part of his government’s remaining agenda.