France’s top constitutional court has rejected a proposed ban on social media for children under 15, dealing a setback to President Emmanuel Macron’s push to restrict young people’s access to online platforms.
The Constitutional Council ruled on Friday that the proposed law went too far, saying it could infringe on freedom of expression and privacy.
The legislation, approved by French lawmakers in July, would have prevented children below 15 from opening social media accounts from September 1. Existing accounts would also have been closed within four months.
The court also raised concerns about the proposed age-verification system, saying the law did not clearly set out how users would prove their age or protect their personal information.
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“The Council holds that the contested provisions… disproportionately infringe upon the freedom of expression and communication,” it said.
The ruling puts France’s planned social media restrictions on hold and makes it harder for the government to introduce the ban before the 2027 presidential election.
Macron has, however, ordered Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to revise the legislation and address the court’s concerns.
The French proposal followed similar efforts in other countries to limit children’s access to social media. Australia introduced the world’s first nationwide ban for users under 16 in December, covering platforms including Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube.
Several other countries, including China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, have also introduced or considered restrictions on young people’s social media use.
The debate comes as governments face growing pressure to protect children from harmful online content and addictive platform features while balancing those measures against privacy and freedom of expression.
France’s latest ruling means the government will now have to find a narrower approach that can protect children without violating constitutional rights.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
