French Court Blocks Social Media Ban for Under-15s

Paris draws a line, then courts erase the ink,
Freedom of speech survives the latest think.
Age checks for all? The judges said non merci—
Kids keep their feeds, and adults stay free.

France’s Constitutional Council delivered a sharp rebuke on August 14, 2026, striking down a law that would have banned social media accounts for anyone under 15. The ruling found the measure disproportionately restricted freedom of expression and communication while failing to protect privacy through vague age-verification rules.

A Blow to Blanket Restrictions

Lawmakers had passed the bill in July, aiming to make France the first EU country to impose a near-total ban starting in September. Platforms would have been forced to close existing under-15 accounts within months and verify ages for all users. The Council ruled the approach neither appropriate nor proportionate, noting that requiring proof of age from every user—including adults—lacked clear safeguards.

Government Response and Next Steps

President Emmanuel Macron immediately directed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to draft a revised version that addresses the Council’s objections and aligns with European rules. The government still aims for implementation by early 2027, but the decision underscores the limits of top-down digital controls that treat every young person and every platform the same.

Conclusion: The ruling prioritizes individual rights over sweeping state mandates. Parents remain the best first line of defense; heavy-handed laws that sweep up adults rarely deliver the protection they promise.