French Constitutional Council Blocks Under-15 Social Media Ban

France's Constitutional Council has blocked a law prohibiting social media access for under-15s, ruling it an unproportionate limitation on freedom of expression. President Emmanuel Macron has ordered a revised draft.

Key points

• The rejected legislation, which was set to take effect on September 1, would have also restricted access to messaging services, certain video games, and online communication spaces.
• Left-wing lawmakers challenged the first article of the bill in late July.
• President Emmanuel Macron aims to have a revised, legally sound text passed before the spring 2027 presidential elections.

Why it matters

The ruling is a significant setback for President Emmanuel Macron's administration, which seeks to establish France as a European leader in regulating minors' digital access.