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Silicon Republic
French court blocks bill banning social media for under-15s
France’s top court has struck down a proposed ban on social media for those under 15, citing potential violations of freedom of expression. President Macron has been instructed to revise the legislation, ensuring adherence to the court's concerns regarding privacy and lawful constraints on age verification. This move signals the need for careful consideration in developing regulations affecting young people's online presence, especially as other nations explore similar laws aimed at protecting children.
ExperimentConfidence: HighShort term horizonRegulatory risk: High
Published 17 Aug 2026, 14:55 UTC2 min read
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Summary
TL;DR
- Constitutional Council deems the bill too broad and infringing on freedom of expression
- Legislation aimed to block children under 15 from social media accounts
- The court criticized the lack of specific conditions for age verification
- Macron tasked with reworking the bill to address constitutional concerns
- France would have led the EU in implementing such a social media ban
Interesting facts
- Australia implemented the world's first social media ban for minors under 16 in December 2022.
- Canada is also proposing a similar ban for children under 16.
- This decision reflects a growing global debate about children's safety and freedom online.