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French court blocks social media ban for under-15s
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
France's top court blocked a ban on social media for under-15s, citing freedom of expression. President Macron ordered a rewrite, a setback for his flagship policy.
Background
France's parliament passed a law in July 2026 to ban under-15s from social media, making France the first EU country to do so, following Australia's example. The law would have required age verification and platform obligations. The Constitutional Council struck it down, saying it disproportionately infringed on freedom of expression and privacy, and was too broad.
How it unfolded
- Jul 2026French lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a bill banning under-15s from social media, set to take effect September 1.
- Aug 14, 2026France's Constitutional Council blocked the ban, ruling it infringed freedom of expression and privacy.
- Aug 14, 2026President Macron ordered Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to rewrite the legislation to address the court's concerns.
Who’s saying what
- Court
- The ban disproportionately infringes freedom of expression and communication, and lacks legal guarantees for privacy.
- Government
- President Macron vowed to rework the legislation to align with the court's ruling.
- Supporters
- Lawmakers who backed the bill aimed to protect children from harmful digital content, following global trends.