France's top court has overturned a law that would have banned children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms. The Constitutional Council ruled on Friday that the ban "disproportionately infringes freedom of expression and communication" and failed to provide adequate legal safeguards for these rights.
The legislation, one of the final major measures passed under President Emmanuel Macron's current term, was intended to take effect at the start of the new school year in September. It also included a ban on mobile phone use in high schools.
France had become the first European Union country to implement such a broad prohibition amidst growing global concerns regarding the impact of digital content on children's well-being. The bill had received approval from both chambers of the French Parliament.
Following the court's decision, President Macron stated his commitment to enacting a ban by the spring. He has tasked Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu with developing a legally sound proposal that aligns with the Constitutional Council's ruling and the European legal framework. Macron indicated that the President, Government, and Parliament would determine the necessary measures to protect children from social media before the end of the current presidential term.