France’s Constitutional Council blocked a government bill designed to ban social media access for children under 15. The court ruled the law championed by President Emmanuel Macron infringed on freedom of expression. Judges deemed the measure neither appropriate, necessary, nor proportionate.
The court found the bill would require all users, including adults, to verify their age without sufficient legal safeguards. This lack of clarity regarding data handling posed a significant constitutional risk.
President Macron ordered the government to draft a revised version of the legislation. The administration plans to have the new law in place by Spring 2027.