French court blocks Macron’s social media ban for under-15s
News Source
•Fri, 14 Aug 2026 17:12:14 GMT
📰 What Happened
France’s highest court blocked a new law that would have stopped under-15s from opening social media accounts. The constitutional council ruled the ban broke people’s rights to free speech and privacy. The law was set to start in September 2026. Tech companies would have had to close existing accounts for kids under 15 within four months. But the court said the law did not explain how age checks should work. It also said the limits on free speech and privacy were too broad. President Macron says he will rewrite the law and try again.
🔍 The Backstory
Many countries are trying to limit children’s use of social media. Australia already banned under-16s from major platforms in December 2025. France wanted to follow that example with its own strict rules. But France has strong laws that protect personal freedoms. The constitutional council has the job of making sure new laws do not break those freedoms. This is not the first time the court has blocked a government plan about the internet. The EU is also working on new rules to protect children from harmful social media features. The fight between safety and free speech is not easy to solve.
🎯 Why It Matters
This ruling shows how hard it is for governments to protect kids online without also limiting basic freedoms. The final law will affect how millions of young people use the internet in France.
France’s highest court blocked a new law that would have stopped under-15s from opening social media accounts. The constitutional council ruled the ban broke people’s rights to free speech and privacy. The law was set to start in September 2026. Tech companies would have had to close existing accounts for kids under 15 within four months. But the court said the law did not explain how age checks should work. It also said the limits on free speech and privacy were too broad. President Macron says he will rewrite the law and try again.
Many countries are trying to limit children’s use of social media. Australia already banned under-16s from major platforms in December 2025. France wanted to follow that example with its own strict rules. But France has strong laws that protect personal freedoms. The constitutional council has the job of making sure new laws do not break those freedoms. This is not the first time the court has blocked a government plan about the internet. The EU is also working on new rules to protect children from harmful social media features. The fight between safety and free speech is not easy to solve.
This ruling shows how hard it is for governments to protect kids online without also limiting basic freedoms. The final law will affect how millions of young people use the internet in France.