The French Constitutional Court blocked on Friday a bill that prohibited access to social networks for minors under 15 years old, arguing that it infringed on freedom of expression. This setback is for President Emmanuel Macron, who asked his government to reformulate the legislation.
“By prohibiting minors under 15 from accessing certain online services, the law inherently requires that any person, even an adult, prove their age before accessing them,” the Constitutional Council stated in its decision.
“However, by not specifying the conditions and limits under which such proof must be presented, the legislature has not established the necessary legal guarantees to ensure compliance with these requirements,” it added.
French lawmakers approved the ban on access to social networks for minors under 15, becoming the first country in Europe to follow the example of Australia, whose pioneering worldwide ban prevented access to platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube for minors under 16 in December.
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Macron ordered Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to review the bill to take into account the concerns of the Constitutional Council, the Élysée Palace reported in a statement.
The Élysée indicated that Macron was determined for the reform to come into effect before the spring of 2027, when France will hold presidential elections. Macron cannot run for a third term, Reuters reported.
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