French Court Blocks Social Media Ban for Minors

France’s Constitutional Council has blocked a proposed law that would have banned children under 15 from using social media platforms. The council ruled today that the bill was too broad and infringed upon freedom of expression and communication.

The council stated that the draft bill failed to consider the individual situation of each minor or the specific risks posed by different platforms. It also mentioned that requiring every user to prove their age before accessing social media created serious privacy concerns.

While acknowledging that protecting children is a legitimate objective, the council concluded that the restrictions were not necessary or appropriate.

Following the decision, French President Emmanuel Macron instructed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to revise the draft legislation as quickly as possible. Macron’s office confirmed that the government still aims to implement the ban by spring 2027.

French lawmakers had previously voted in favour of the legislation, which was set to make France the first country in the European Union to introduce an age limit. The original legislation was set to block children under 15 from opening new accounts starting in September before applying age verification to all existing users by January 2027.

Governments around the world are currently considering whether to follow Australia’s lead from last December by setting minimum age limits for social media. Britain announced similar plans in June, with a parliamentary vote expected by Christmas, while Spain, Greece, and Denmark are also preparing their restrictions.