France’s Top Court Strikes Down Ban on Social Media for Under-15s

France’s Constitutional Council blocked a bill that would have barred children younger than 15 from opening social media accounts starting September 1, dealing a setback to President Emmanuel Macron. The court found the legislation placed disproportionate limits on freedom of expression and communication, while failing to provide adequate legal protections for personal privacy.

Age Verification Requirement Also Criticized

Under the original bill, existing accounts held by children under 15 would have been closed within four months, and platforms would have needed to verify user age through a system approved by France’s privacy regulator. The court said the bill did not clearly define the conditions or limits under which proof of age should be required, raising additional privacy concerns.

France Sought to Follow Australia’s Lead

French lawmakers approved the bill in July, aiming to become the first country in Europe to introduce such restrictions after Australia’s ban on social media access for under-16s took effect in December. Other countries, including China, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey, have introduced or proposed similar measures, while the European Union has said it plans stronger protections for children online.

Government Ordered to Revise the Bill

Macron has directed his prime minister to rework the legislation to address the court’s concerns. Major social media platforms have generally opposed blanket bans, pointing to existing age-restriction tools, though they have said they would comply with government requirements if implemented.