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French Constitutional Court rejects ban on social security for under-15s
Italy🏛️ PoliticsLean Progressive9 days ago

French Constitutional Court rejects ban on social security for under-15s

The French Constitutional Council has rejected a ban on social media for minors under 15 years old, a measure strongly advocated by President Emmanuel Macron. The council ruled that the restriction constitutes an 'excessive violation of freedom of expression' for minors. The decision was prompted by a group of socialist deputies and members of La France Insoumise who challenged Article 1 of the law aimed at protecting minors from the influence and dependency risks associated with social media. While acknowledging the constitutional need to protect the best interests of children, the judges argued that such a broad ban applies to online communication services whose health and safety risks for minors are not proven. In response, Macron has ordered Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to rewrite the law, aiming for a revised version by spring 2027.

The French Constitutional Council has ruled that President Emmanuel Macron’s proposed law banning minors under 15 from using social media platforms is unconstitutional. The ruling, delivered on August 14, 2026, found the measure violated the constitutional rights of young people by imposing an overly broad restriction on their freedom of expression and communication. The council emphasized that the law’s sweeping nature applied to online communication services whose risks to minors’ health and safety had not been substantiated. Despite this rejection, Macron has vowed to revise the legislation and submit a new proposal by spring 2027. The dispute began in late July 2026, when a group of Socialist deputies and members of the political movement La France Insoumise challenged the law before the Constitutional Council. They focused specifically on Article 1, which aimed to protect minors from the influence of social media and potential addiction. The judges acknowledged the government’s concern for the well-being of children but argued that the ban was disproportionate. They stated that the law improperly restricted fundamental freedoms without sufficient evidence of harm. While recognizing the need to safeguard minors, they stressed that the current approach failed to meet constitutional standards of proportionality. The law, originally passed by a wide majority in both chambers of Parliament, 279 votes in favor and 81 against, had sought to address growing concerns over digital dependency among youth. It included provisions such as a complete ban on social media access for those under 15 and restrictions on mobile phone use within high schools. However, the Constitutional Council’s ruling invalidated only the part concerning social media access, leaving the school phone policy intact. This decision marks a significant setback for Macron’s agenda, which he had framed as a critical issue of national civilisation. Macron, known for his assertive leadership style, has not shown signs of backing down. Upon learning of the ruling, he immediately instructed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to draft a revised version of the law. The president’s office confirmed that the new text must be ready by spring 2027, though no further details have been released. The government’s goal appears to be to find a legal framework that balances parental protection with the constitutional rights of minors, while avoiding the pitfalls of the previous proposal. France’s attempt to regulate social media access for minors follows a similar model adopted in Australia, making it one of the first European countries to implement such measures. However, the Constitutional Council’s intervention highlights the challenges of legislating in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. The ruling underscores the tension between public health concerns and individual liberties, a debate that continues to shape policy discussions across Europe. In addition to rejecting the social media ban, the Constitutional Council approved other parts of the bill, including provisions related to assisted suicide for terminally ill adults. This dual outcome illustrates the complexity of the legislative process, where different aspects of a single law can face varying judicial scrutiny. The court requested only minor clarifications regarding the implementation of the assisted suicide clause, suggesting that the broader structure of the law was acceptable. Meanwhile, the rejection of the social media regulation has sparked renewed debate about how best to protect young people in the digital age without infringing on their rights.

4 reports

Open logoOpenIndependentCenterFactual 90Objective 859 days ago
France's Constitutional Court rejects ban on social networks for under-15s: 'Disproportionate'

The French Constitutional Court has rejected a law banning social media use by children under 15, calling it an 'excessive violation' of their freedom of expression. President Emmanuel Macron, who had described the restriction as a 'civilization issue,' has instructed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to draft a new proposal by spring 2027. The court acknowledged the importance of protecting minors from online risks but criticized the absolute ban as disproportionate and not sufficiently justified by evidence of generalized harm. The ruling applies only to the specific article on social media, while the existing ban on mobile phone use in high schools remains in effect. France had become the first European country to implement such a strict measure, inspired by Australia’s approach to digital dependency.

Bias read (Center): The article presents the court's decision and Macron's response neutrally, without overtly favoring either side. It includes both the court's reasoning and Macron's stance, providing balanced context without loaded language or one-sided sourcing.

Why factuality (90): This article accurately reflects the Constitutional Court’s ruling, including the key points about proportionality, the absence of proven risks, and the continued validity of the phone ban in schools. It clearly outlines the government’s response and the timeline for revising the law, matching the c

Why objectivity (85): The article maintains a balanced tone, explaining both the court’s rationale and Macron’s stance. While it emphasizes the impact on the government’s line, it does not take a clear ideological stance, keeping the narrative objective.

Il Fatto Quotidiano logoIl Fatto QuotidianoIndependentCenterFactual 88Objective 829 days ago
France's Constitutional Council rejects Macron's ban on social security for those under 15.

The French Constitutional Council has ruled that the proposed ban on social media for individuals under 15 years old, introduced by President Emmanuel Macron, is unconstitutional. The council deemed the restrictions an excessive violation of minors' freedom of expression. Despite this rejection, Macron has instructed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to revise the law and submit a new version by spring 2027. The challenge was initiated by a group of socialist deputies and members of La France Insoumise, who criticized Article 1 of the bill, which aimed to protect minors from the influence and addictive effects of social media. The judges acknowledged the constitutional need to protect minors but argued that the broad scope of the ban applies to online communication services whose risks to minors' health and safety are not proven.

Bias read (Center): The article presents the ruling of the French Constitutional Council and Macron’s response neutrally, without evident bias toward either side. It includes both the legal reasoning against the ban and Macron’s determination to revisit the legislation, providing balanced coverage of the situation.

Why factuality (88): The article confirms the Constitutional Court’s rejection of the social media ban, cites the reasons given by the judges, and reports Macron’s directive to revise the law. It includes relevant context about the lawmakers who challenged the measure and the nature of the violation. Minor repetition re

Why objectivity (82): The language is generally neutral, though phrases like 'schiaffo a Macron' (slap to Macron) carry slight emotional weight. Despite this, the article presents both the court’s decision and the government’s reaction without overt bias.

ANSA logoANSAIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 809 days ago
French Constitutional Court rejects ban on social security for under-15s

The French Constitutional Council has rejected a ban on social media for minors under 15 years old, a measure strongly advocated by President Emmanuel Macron. The council ruled that the restriction constitutes an 'excessive violation of freedom of expression' for minors. The decision was prompted by a group of socialist deputies and members of La France Insoumise who challenged Article 1 of the law aimed at protecting minors from the influence and dependency risks associated with social media. While acknowledging the constitutional need to protect the best interests of children, the judges argued that such a broad ban applies to online communication services whose health and safety risks for minors are not proven. In response, Macron has ordered Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to rewrite the law, aiming for a revised version by spring 2027.

Bias read (Center): The article presents the ruling of the French Constitutional Council and the subsequent reaction from President Macron in a balanced manner, without evident bias toward either side. It includes direct quotes from the court and mentions Macron’s directive without editorializing or favoring one stance

Why factuality (85): The article accurately reports that the French Constitutional Council rejected parts of the law banning social media for minors under 15, citing disproportionate infringement on freedom of expression. It provides details from official sources including the involvement of Socialist and La France Inso

Why objectivity (80): The tone remains neutral, presenting both sides of the debate, constitutional concerns versus government intent. However, there is slight editorializing in phrases like 'bocciato' (failing) which may carry a negative connotation, though not overtly biased.

la Repubblica logola RepubblicaIndependent🔒ProgressiveFactual 85Objective 809 days ago
French Constitutional Court rejects social ban for under-15s: Limitation of freedom of expression

The French Constitutional Court has rejected a ban on social media access for individuals under 15 years old, calling the restriction a limitation on freedom of expression. The decision follows a request by a group of Socialist deputies and members of La France Insoumise, who challenged the law. President Macron has tasked Minister Lecornu with drafting a new text to reach a solution by spring 2027. The ruling highlights ongoing debates over digital rights and youth regulation in France.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the rejection of the social media age restriction as a defense of freedom of expression, aligning with progressive values. It emphasizes the involvement of leftist political groups (Socialist deputies and La France Insoumise) and presents the court’s decision as a counter to a reg

Why factuality (85): The article reports that the French Constitutional Court rejected the ban on social media for minors under 15, citing proportionality concerns. It mentions the involvement of Socialist deputies and 'La France Insoumise', and states Macron has tasked Lecornu with drafting a new text by spring 2027. T

Why objectivity (80): The tone remains neutral, presenting both sides of the issue, government intent versus judicial reasoning. The article avoids strong emotional language but does frame the court’s rejection as a 'stop' and highlights Macron’s determination, which may subtly favor his position.

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