France’s Constitutional Council has rejected a law banning citizens under 15 from using social networks because the law was incompatible with freedom of expression and the protection of privacy. This has become an unexpected obstacle for President Macron’s initiative to direct the cabinet to develop new projects.
The document envisages blocking existing accounts of teenagers from September 1 and introducing mandatory age verification on the platform. The court pointed out that there was a lack of clear legal protection and the restrictions were excessive and violated citizens’ basic rights.
Parliament previously approved the initiative, which hopes to make the country the first in the EU to impose such a ban. Australia has taken similar steps to restrict minors’ access to popular platforms, although debate over the effectiveness of such bans continues around the world.
