France's top court strikes down social media ban for under-15s
France's Constitutional Court has rejected a law banning children under 15 from social media, citing disproportionate restrictions on free expression. The government plans to draft a revised bill.
France's Constitutional Court has struck down a law that sought to ban children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms. Judges ruled that the measure placed a disproportionate burden on freedom of expression.
Privacy concerns
The court also flagged concerns about the age-verification systems that would have been required to enforce the ban, noting the privacy implications of confirming users' identities or ages online.
Government response
The French government has said it will now work on a revised version of the legislation. President Emmanuel Macron has voiced concern about the effects of social media on children's mental and physical health, signaling that protecting minors online remains a government priority. Any new bill will need to balance child-protection goals with constitutional free-expression guarantees, while also addressing the privacy questions raised by age-verification requirements.
