France’s Top Court Blocks Bill Banning Social Media For Under-15s

France’s Constitutional Council, the country’s top court, has struck down a bill seeking to ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms.

The court ruled on Friday that the proposed legislation was too broad and could not be enforced without infringing on privacy, as well as freedom of expression and communication.

The Constitutional Council said the bill could not impose a sweeping prohibition on minors using social media “without infringing freedom of expression and communication.”

It further ruled that the legislation failed to take into account the individual circumstances of minors or the specific risks associated with different social media platforms.

The decision comes weeks after French lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the proposed legislation, which would have made France the first country in the European Union to introduce a blanket social media age limit of 15.

The proposed ban was aimed at restricting children’s access to social media amid growing concerns over online safety and the potential impact of social media use on young people.

However, the Constitutional Council’s ruling means the legislation cannot proceed in its current form.

The decision is expected to fuel further debate in France and across the European Union over how governments can protect children online while preserving privacy and freedom of expression.