France’s Top Court Strikes Down Social Media Ban for Under-15s

France’s Constitutional Council has struck down legislation banning children under 15 from accessing social media, ruling that the measure violated freedom of expression and communication. The law, approved by lawmakers in July, had been intended to make France the first European country to impose such a restriction, with President Emmanuel Macron planning to introduce the ban in stages from September.

The nine-member Constitutional Council said the legislation’s Article 1 constituted an infringement that was neither appropriate, necessary nor proportionate to the freedom of expression of under-15s. It also raised concerns about mandatory age verification, saying the law did not provide sufficient legal safeguards. Following the ruling, Macron asked Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to prepare a revised draft addressing the council’s concerns, while his office said the president remained determined to implement the reform by early 2027.

The decision comes amid growing efforts across Europe to restrict young people’s access to social media over concerns about mental health, privacy and online safety. Australia introduced a ban for under-16s last December, while the UK has announced plans to restrict social media access for under-16s from January 2027. At the EU level, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also proposed measures to delay children’s access to social media, although critics continue to question the effectiveness of age-verification systems and the ability of young users to bypass restrictions.