France’s Constitutional Council Vets Out Under-15 Social Media Ban
The French government’s attempt to become the first European nation to prohibit social media for children under 15 has been struck down by the Constitutional Council, which cited insufficient protections for freedom of expression and vague implementation protocols.
France’s Constitutional Council has struck down legislation that would have banned children under the age of 15 from using social media, ruling on 14 August 2026 that the law failed to establish adequate legal safeguards. The decision halts the implementation of a measure that had passed parliament last month, which would have positioned France as the first European country to enforce such a prohibition.
The court determined that the bill infringed upon constitutional protections for freedom of expression. Specifically, the ruling noted that the legislation mandated age verification for all users, including adults, without specifying the conditions or limits under which this proof must be provided. The court stated that by failing to define these parameters, the legislature did not create the necessary safeguards to ensure compliance with constitutional requirements.
President Emmanuel Macron has directed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to rework the draft legislation to address the court’s concerns. Despite the veto, Macron has signalled continued support for the ban, having previously committed to the measure to protect children online. The government is now tasked with rewriting the bill to satisfy the Constitutional Council’s requirements regarding legal safeguards and verification protocols.
The legislative effort in France mirrors broader international trends in digital regulation. Australia already enforces a ban barring children under 16 from using platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Twitch, and YouTube, although the law has faced legal challenges and studies suggest mixed results regarding its effectiveness. Denmark is reportedly close to passing similar legislation, while the United Kingdom is also considering a ban.
In North America, regulatory approaches vary. Canadian regulators have introduced a bill to ban social media for individuals aged 16 and younger. Meanwhile, several US states have introduced legislation that typically requires parental consent rather than implementing outright bans, reflecting a different regulatory strategy for curbing youth social media use.
