France's Top Court Blocks Social Media Ban for Under-15s
The ruling is a major setback for President Macron's flagship policy, forcing the government to redraft the bill to align age limits with fundamental rights.
Reporting from 1 source: GIGAZINE.
France's Constitutional Council blocked a bill that would have banned social media for children under 15, ruling it infringes on freedom of expression. The court said the bill's age verification requirements lacked specified conditions and limits. President Emmanuel Macron's government will revise the bill, targeting spring 2027.
The French Constitutional Council struck down the bill on August 14, 2026, days before it was set to take effect on September 1. The court found that requiring everyone to submit age verification documents, without specifying the conditions and limits, disproportionately infringed on freedom of expression and communication. It also said the bill lacked legal protections for the right to respect for private life.
The presidential office responded by saying the government would not give up on the ban. Macron has instructed the Prime Minister to draft a legally sound proposal that accounts for the ruling, with a new target date of spring 2027. The decision comes as other countries, including Greece, Canada, and the UK, pursue similar restrictions following Australia's lead.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.