France’s Constitutional Council has overturned its own plan to bar people under 15 from accessing social media. The ruling came Friday and nullified a law that would have prohibited the creation of new accounts for young users from September, and required age verification on all accounts by January.
The decision was anchored on free‑speech grounds. The Council argued that Article 1 of the bill “constitutes an infringement that is neither appropriate, necessary nor proportionate” to the freedom of expression and communication for under‑15s.
The court also flagged that the proposed proof‑of‑age mechanism lacks “adequate legal safeguards.” Critics had long highlighted privacy risks and how children could evade verification.
Following the ruling, President Emmanuel Macron ordered Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to draft a new version of the legislation that addresses the Council’s concerns. The government aims to enable the reform by early 2027.
The policy echoes similar moves elsewhere. Australia introduced a ban on under‑16s in December last year, though many users still slip through. In May, EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen floated a “social‑media delay” for children across the bloc. In the UK, former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a 2027 ban for under‑16s and a optional midnight curfew for teens aged 16 and 17.
The debate continues to weigh child safety against rights and the effectiveness of digital‑age verification systems. France’s latest court ruling marks a significant shift in the European landscape on this issue.
