ON
← Back to feed
French court overturns Macron's ban on social media for under-15s
Croatia🏛️ PoliticsCenter9 days ago

French court overturns Macron's ban on social media for under-15s

The French Constitutional Council has overturned President Emmanuel Macron's ban on social media access for users under 15 years old, dealing a significant blow to one of his key policies. The law, passed by French lawmakers in August, aimed to make France the first European country to block minors under 15 from accessing social networks. The ban was set to take effect in phases starting in September. However, the Constitutional Council ruled that the law violated freedom of expression and communication, stating the restrictions were neither proportionate nor necessary. The council also criticized the method for verifying user age, noting insufficient legal safeguards. Under the original plan, users under 15 would have been unable to open new social media accounts starting in September, with existing accounts facing age verification checks by January 2025. Macron has vowed not to abandon the ban and has asked Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornuet to draft a revised proposal addressing the constitutional concerns. Critics raised privacy and system reliability issues, as well as the possibility that minors could bypass the restrictions. France is not alone in attempting to limit minors'

The French Constitutional Council has struck down President Emmanuel Macron’s proposed ban on social media access for minors under the age of 15, marking a major setback for one of his key legislative initiatives. The ruling, issued on Friday, declared the law unconstitutional due to its infringement on freedom of expression and communication, which the council deemed neither appropriate nor proportionate. The decision was reached after the law had already passed through the National Assembly earlier this year, setting France apart as potentially the first European country to impose such restrictions. Under the original proposal, the ban would have gradually taken effect starting in September, with younger users prohibited from opening new accounts on platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. From January, the rules would have applied retroactively to existing accounts. However, the Constitutional Council highlighted concerns over how the age verification process would function, arguing that the law failed to establish necessary legal safeguards to ensure compliance. It noted that the requirement for all users, regardless of age, to prove their identity before accessing services posed significant challenges, particularly in terms of privacy and practical implementation. The law had initially been supported by lawmakers who saw it as a bold step toward protecting young people from online risks. They argued that the measure would align France with other nations taking similar actions. Australia, for example, became the first country globally to implement such restrictions in December, banning access to major platforms for users under 16. Other European countries are reportedly considering similar measures, though none have yet enacted them. President Macron, however, has not ruled out pursuing reforms. His office has instructed Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne to prepare a revised version of the bill that incorporates the constitutional council's concerns. A spokesperson for the Elysée Palace stated that the government aims to reintroduce the policy before the spring 2027 presidential elections, during which Macron will not be eligible to run for re-election. Despite the rejection, Macron remains committed to the broader goal of regulating digital spaces for children, citing public health and safety as central motivations. Critics of the original proposal raised several concerns, including the potential violation of privacy rights and the difficulty of enforcing age checks effectively. Some warned that minors could easily bypass the system, undermining the law’s intended purpose. Others questioned whether such restrictions were truly necessary given the lack of conclusive evidence linking social media usage directly to harmful outcomes among youth. These arguments gained traction as the debate over digital regulation intensified both domestically and internationally. France’s move reflects a growing trend of governments seeking greater control over online content, especially concerning minors. While the current law has been invalidated, the underlying issue, how to balance free speech with child protection, remains unresolved. As discussions continue, the outcome of any future legislation will likely depend on further negotiations between lawmakers, technologists, and civil society groups. For now, the focus shifts to refining the legal framework to address the constitutional concerns while maintaining the intent to safeguard young users.

Go to the primary sources (1)

The official sources this coverage is built on. Read them directly to bypass framing.

3 reports

tportal logotportalIndependentCenterFactual 90Objective 909 days ago
French court overturns Macron's ban on social media for under-15s

The French Constitutional Council has overturned President Emmanuel Macron's ban on social media access for users under 15 years old, dealing a significant blow to one of his key policies. The law, passed by French lawmakers in August, aimed to make France the first European country to block minors under 15 from accessing social networks. The ban was set to take effect in phases starting in September. However, the Constitutional Council ruled that the law violated freedom of expression and communication, stating the restrictions were neither proportionate nor necessary. The council also criticized the method for verifying user age, noting insufficient legal safeguards. Under the original plan, users under 15 would have been unable to open new social media accounts starting in September, with existing accounts facing age verification checks by January 2025. Macron has vowed not to abandon the ban and has asked Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornuet to draft a revised proposal addressing the constitutional concerns. Critics raised privacy and system reliability issues, as well as the possibility that minors could bypass the restrictions. France is not alone in attempting to limit minors'

Bias read (Center): The article presents the ruling of the French Constitutional Council against Macron's proposed social media restrictions for minors. It includes balanced reporting on both the council's decision and Macron's response, citing official sources and providing context on the policy's goals and criticisms

Why factuality (90): The article accurately reflects the constitutional court's decision to reject the social media ban for under-15s, citing the infringement on free speech. It includes relevant details about the law's provisions, the timeline, and Macron's response. The article also references the BBC as a source, ali

Why objectivity (90): The article maintains a neutral tone throughout, presenting the facts objectively without showing favor toward either the court or Macron. It avoids emotionally charged language and provides balanced coverage of the situation.

HRT (Hrvatska radiotelevizija) logoHRT (Hrvatska radiotelevizija)State / PublicCenterFactual 85Objective 909 days ago
French court suspends social media ban on under-15s

Najviši francuski sud je obustavio nacrt zakona koji bi zabranio pristup društvenim mrežama mlađima od 15 godina, smatrajući ga uklapanjem u slobodu izražavanja. Zakon, koji je bio veliki projekt predsjednika Emmanuela Macrona, zahtijevao je da sve korisnici, uključujući odrasle, dokažu svoju dobu prije pristupanja uslugama, ali nije propisao jasne uvjete za provjeru. Ustavno vijeće je naglasilo nedostatak pravnih jamstava za provedbu ovog zahtjeva. Macron je tražio preradu nacrta zakona nakon što je zastupnici odobrili zabranu pristupa društvenim mrežama za djecu mlađu od 15 godina, postavši prvi u Europi. Ovo potežu slijedi Australiju, koja je zabranila pristup platformama kao što su Facebook, TikTok i YouTube za mlađe od 16 godina. Macron je odlučan da reforma stupi na snagu prije proljeća 2027., kada će se održavati predsjednički izbori.

Bias read (Center): Činjenica da je najviši sud obustavio nacrt zakona sugerira da je bilo više političkog naprezanja oko njegove implementacije, ali članak ne prikazuje jednu stranu kao dominantnu. Povratna veza sa Macronom i njegovim ciljem da reforma stupi na snagu prije izbora pokazuje političku kontekstualizaciju,

Why factuality (85): The article accurately reports the constitutional court's decision to strike down the social media ban for under-15s, citing infringement on free speech. It includes relevant details such as Macron's response and the timeline of the legislation. However, it adds some contextual information like Aust

Why objectivity (90): The article presents the facts neutrally, avoiding strong language or opinion. It provides background on the law and mentions both the court's reasoning and Macron's reaction without taking sides.

Jutarnji list logoJutarnji listIndependentCenterFactual 80Objective 859 days ago
In France, a ban on social networks for those under 15 has been blocked.

Najviši sud u Francuskoj je blokirao nacrt zakona koji bi zabranio mlađima od 15 godina pristup društvenim mrežama, smatrajući ga kršenjem slobode izražavanja. Zakon, koji je bio veliki projekt predsjednika Emmanuela Macrona, zahtijevao je da sve korisnici, uključujući odrasle, dokažu svoju dobu prije pristupanja uslugama, što je prema Ustavnom vijeću nedostajalo pravne osnove. Francuski zastupnici su odobrili zabranu pristupa društvenim medijima za djecu mlađu od 15 godina, postavši prvi u Europi, slijedeći Australiju koja je već zabranila pristup takvim platformama za mlađe od 16 godina. Macron je naložio premijeru Sebastienu Lecornuu da preradi nacrt zakona uzimajući u obzir zabrinutosti Ustavnog vijeća, a odluka da reforma stupi na snagu prije proljeća 2027. dolazi na pozadini predsjedničkih izbora u Francuskoj, gdje Macron ne može kandidirati za treći mandat.

Bias read (Center): The article presents both the legislative initiative by Macron and the counterarguments from the Constitutional Council, providing balanced coverage of the legal and political implications. It does not favor one side over the other but reports on the conflict between the executive and judicial arms,

Why factuality (80): The article accurately summarizes the constitutional court's rejection of the social media ban for under-15s and includes Macron's directive to revise the law. However, it repeats some phrases verbatim from the primary source without adding much analysis or context beyond what is already provided.

Why objectivity (85): The article remains largely neutral in tone, presenting the facts without overt bias. It includes direct quotes from the constitutional council and mentions Macron's response without editorializing.

How each side covered it

The same event, grouped by the political lean of the outlets covering it.

How each side covered it

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Covered around the world

The same event as reported in other countries.

Covered around the world

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Claims check

Key factual claims, and how many sources assert vs dispute each.

Claims check

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Keep the news honest.

ObjectiveNews is reader-funded and ad-free — we show you the bias instead of hiding it. Support independent journalism for €4/month.

Become a Supporter

Related stories