France court strikes down under-15 social media ban
Crhk · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
France’s Constitutional Council has rejected a law approved by parliament last month that sought to ban social media use by minors under 15.
The council said protecting children from addiction, isolation, sexual content, cyberbullying and fraud was a legitimate aim, but the measure was too broad and breached constitutional protections for freedom of communication and expression.
The ruling is a setback for President Emmanuel Macron, who has nevertheless ordered Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to prepare a new bill as quickly as possible.
The Elysee said the replacement draft should be legally stronger and should take account of both the council’s reasoning and the wider European regulatory framework.
Key Points
- The Constitutional Council issued its decision on the 14th, formally blocking the proposed ban on social media use by under-15s in France.
- Judges accepted the child-protection objective, citing risks including addiction, isolation, pornography, online harassment and fraud linked to social media.
- The council found the ban too sweeping because it did not distinguish between platforms by function, content or actual level of risk.
- It also said the law failed to consider differences in minors’ age, maturity and family circumstances, making the restriction disproportionate.
- After the ruling, Macron instructed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to urgently redraft the measure on a firmer legal basis.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the case shows how attempts to regulate minors’ online activity can run into constitutional or rights-based limits even when child safety is the stated goal. Any future European rules or French legislative redesign could influence how other jurisdictions balance youth protection with freedom of expression on digital platforms.