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.





