French court blocks Macron’s social media law: Under-15 restriction infringes on freedoms

The law intended to ban people under the age of 15 from using social media has been blocked by France’s Constitutional Council. According to the council, the measures provided for disproportionately infringed on freedom of expression and the right to privacy.

The decision is considered a blow to President Emmanuel Macron’s efforts to tighten restrictions on children’s use of social media.

The French Parliament passed the law in July, with its implementation scheduled to begin in September. People under 15 would have been prohibited from opening accounts on social platforms, while companies would have been required to close existing profiles belonging to minors and introduce age-verification mechanisms.

In its assessment, France’s Constitutional Council found that the legislation did not clearly define the conditions and limits of the procedures that would be used to verify users’ ages.

The court argued that the provisions did not contain sufficient safeguards to protect privacy, while the interference with freedom of expression and communication was excessive.

Following the development, Emmanuel Macron asked Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to revise the legislation, with the aim of addressing the concerns identified by the Constitutional Council.

The Élysée Palace announced that President Macron remains determined for a new reform to begin implementation before the spring of 2027.

Discussions about restricting minors’ access to social media have intensified in many countries, particularly after Australia decided to ban major platforms for people under the age of 16.

In addition to Australia’s restrictions on major platforms, Indonesia and Malaysia have also taken measures affecting users under 16 on certain platforms.

The United Kingdom is also examining the possibility of imposing restrictions on minors under the age of 16. Meanwhile, the European Union has warned of stricter measures to protect children from harmful content and features on social media.