France’s Constitutional Council on Aug. 14 struck down the government’s plan to bar all social‑media accounts for users under 15, a measure that would have affected millions of French minors. The ruling halts the rollout and forces a rewrite before the spring 2027 presidential election.
Parliament passed the bill in July, obliging platforms to verify age for new accounts and to close existing under‑15 accounts within four months. The council found the age‑proof requirement undefined and disproportionate, breaching freedom of expression and privacy. President Macron instructed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to draft a revised version that meets constitutional standards.
The decision represents a political setback for Macron, who had pledged a staged rollout and now must delay the reform. It also underscores the legal challenges facing Europe’s emerging age‑restriction agenda, as regulators in the EU and UK prepare similar measures while Australia’s own ban remains contested.