Chicago – August 15, 2026
France’s Constitutional Council on Friday blocked a law that would have banned children under 15 from accessing social media, dealing a setback to President Emmanuel Macron’s efforts to tighten online protections for minors.
The court ruled that the legislation disproportionately infringed on freedom of expression and communication and did not provide sufficient safeguards for users’ privacy. The law would have required social media platforms to prevent children under 15 from opening accounts and eventually close existing accounts. It also raised concerns because age verification would effectively require users to prove their age.
Macron had pushed for the measure as part of his campaign to protect children from harmful online content. Following the ruling, he instructed Prime Minister SĂ©bastien Lecornu to prepare a revised proposal that complies with constitutional and European legal requirements. The government wants the new legislation in place by spring 2027.
The ruling comes as France and other countries debate tougher restrictions on children’s social-media use, balancing online safety against privacy and freedom of expression.
