In a victory for constitutional rights, France’s Constitutional Council has struck down a government-backed law that sought to ban social media access for children under 15.
The court ruled that the legislation, which President Emmanuel Macron had championed, was neither appropriate nor proportionate, specifically finding that it infringed upon the fundamental freedom of expression and communication.
The ruling also highlighted the government's failure to provide adequate legal safeguards and raised significant concerns regarding the privacy implications of mandatory age-verification requirements.
Despite the court's clear rejection of the state's overreach, President Macron remains undeterred, immediately tasking his administration with drafting new legislation to force the ban through by 2027.
This attempt to control online access follows a trend of European leaders seeking to restrict digital autonomy, mirroring similar restrictive proposals in the UK and by the European Commission.
While proponents of the ban cite mental health concerns, the court’s decision serves as a necessary check on a government attempting to bypass constitutional protections in the name of social engineering.
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