France's Constitutional Council Strikes Down Social Media Ban for Under-15s As Disproportionate

France's Constitutional Council on Friday, August 14, struck down a ban on social media for children under 15, a flagship policy of President Emmanuel Macron's second term, calling the measure "a disproportionate restriction" on freedom of expression. The Council ruled that Article 1 of a law adopted in July, intended to protect minors from the risks associated with social media use, "constitutes a restriction that is not appropriate, necessary or proportionate" to the freedom of expression and communication of under-15s. While recognizing the "constitutional requirement to protect the best interests of the child, the judges said such a broad ban "could apply to online communication services for which the risks to the health and safety of minors (...) have not been established. Macron responded by tasking Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu with "working on a legally robust draft" of the ban "as quickly as possible. In a statement, the Elysée Palace said "the president's determination to see this reform through by spring 2027 remains absolute.