French court blocks proposed social media ban for children under 15

France's Constitutional Council has blocked a proposed law that would have prohibited children under the age of 15 from accessing social media, ruling that the legislation placed disproportionate restrictions on freedom of expression and failed to provide sufficient safeguards for privacy.

The decision halts a bill approved by French lawmakers in July that sought to prevent children under 15 from creating social media accounts from September 2026.

The legislation also required social media companies to close existing accounts belonging to users below the age threshold within four months and implement age verification systems approved by France's data protection authority.

However, the Constitutional Council determined that the proposed law lacked clear provisions outlining how age verification measures would be implemented and regulated.

In its ruling, the court said the legislation imposed excessive limitations on freedom of expression and communication while failing to establish adequate legal protections for users' privacy.

According to the council, the bill did not sufficiently define the conditions and limitations governing age verification procedures, creating concerns over the collection and handling of personal data.

The decision represents a significant setback for the French government's efforts to strengthen online protections for children and adolescents.

Had the legislation been implemented, France would have become the first member state of the European Union to introduce a nationwide social media ban for children under 15.

The proposal reflected a growing international trend toward tighter regulation of children's access to digital platforms.

Australia introduced the world's first social media ban for minors in December 2025, while Canada has proposed similar restrictions that would prohibit children under 16 from using social media platforms.

Following Australia, Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, have also introduced social media ban for children under 16 years of age.

Policymakers in the United Kingdom and the European Union have also explored measures aimed at increasing online safety for younger users through stricter regulations and enhanced platform accountability.

Following the Constitutional Council's ruling, French President Emmanuel Macron has asked his government and Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to revise the draft legislation to address the court's concerns.

The revised proposal is expected to focus on balancing child protection with fundamental rights, including freedom of expression and privacy.

The debate highlights the growing challenge facing governments worldwide as they attempt to regulate children's online activities while safeguarding individual rights and ensuring that digital platforms remain accessible and accountable.