France's top court blocks social media ban for under-15s

France’s top court has blocked a ban on social media access for under-15s, ruling that it infringed freedom of expression and privacy.

The decision is a blow to President Emmanuel Macron as momentum builds around the world for Australian-style restrictions on children’s use of social media.

A law approved by parliament in July would have barred under-15s from opening social media accounts from the beginning of September. Tech platforms would also have been required to close existing accounts within four months and use age-verification tools approved by ⁠France’s privacy regulator.

However, the constitutional council found that while the law required users to provide proof ​of age, it failed to specify the “conditions and limits” ‌under which this should happen. It also found that the restrictions infringed freedom of expression and privacy.

“The council holds that the contested provisions, on ‌the one hand, disproportionately infringe upon the freedom of expression and communication and, on the other, fail to provide the legal safeguards necessary to ensure the right to respect for private life,” it said.

Several countries have followed the example of Australia, which barred under-16s from leading social media platforms in December last year. Indonesia and Malaysia have introduced restrictions for under-16s on certain platforms, while the UK is preparing to block leading apps for the same age group next year.

In Australia, the affected platforms are Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X and YouTube.

The EU has also said it plans to seek stronger protections for children from harmful social media features, building on the digital services act that already sets rules for tech platforms.

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said last month that “it is clear we need age-appropriate restrictions to platforms”. She did not refer to a specific age limit, instead raising the prospect of “phased and gradual access for different age ranges”.

Social media companies generally oppose blanket bans, arguing that they already have measures to protect younger users, including a minimum age of 13. They ⁠have also said they would comply with government restrictions.

Macron, who in April ​urged teenagers to turn off their devices and read in order to become better ​citizens, has asked the French prime ‌minister, Sébastien Lecornu, to ​rework the legislation to address the constitutional council’s concerns, according to the Élysée.