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French court blocks social media ban for under 15s
politico.eu • • world
Key Points:
- France's Constitutional Council struck down a bill aiming to ban social media access for under-15s starting September, citing disproportionate infringement on minors' freedom of expression and communication.
- The proposed ban was a key policy of President Emmanuel Macron's second term and part of broader EU efforts to regulate social media access for children.
- The French government plans to revise the bill, targeting spring 2027 for reintroduction, with a focus on allowing parental flexibility to comply with constitutional rights.
- Legal experts suggest the ruling could impact similar social media age restriction proposals across the EU, as it emphasizes fundamental rights that apply bloc-wide.
- The court criticized the bill's blanket approach, noting it failed to differentiate risks among platforms or minors' varying maturity levels, and included platforms without proven risks to minors' health and safety.
