France’s highest court on Friday rejected a bill banning social media for children under 15, ruling that it was too broad and unfairly infringed on freedom of expression.
The Constitutional Council ruled that the proposed bill cannot ban minors from using social media “without infringing on freedom of expression and communication,” is too broad to take into account each minor’s individual situation and the specific risks of each platform, and raises privacy concerns.
Last month, French lawmakers overwhelmingly voted in favor of the bill, which would make France the first country in the European Union to introduce such an age limit.
However, the French bill is being scrutinized by the Constitutional Council to ensure that it complies with the French constitution.
Following the decision, French President Emmanuel Macron ordered Prime Minister Sébastien Lecorne to rework the bill “as soon as possible,” his office said in a statement, underscoring his determination to implement the ban by spring 2027.
The council’s objections had two points. The ban was too broad and raised privacy concerns because “the law itself implies that everyone, even adults, must prove their age before accessing[social media platforms],” the court said in a statement.
Their decision argued that while the law’s purpose to protect children is legitimate, the bill “violates freedom of expression and communication in a manner that is inappropriate, necessary, or disproportionate” to that purpose.
Countries around the world are grappling with the question of whether to follow Australia’s example in December by banning under-16s from using social media.
The UK government announced similar restrictions in June, and the country’s parliament is expected to vote on the proposals by Christmas. Spain, Greece and Denmark also plan to impose minimum age restrictions on social media.
President Macron had ordered the government to quickly pass the bill through parliament, with the aim of enacting it before the start of the new school year in September.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
