France court blocks social media ban for children under 15
What's next: Emmanuel Macron ordered a rewrite, aiming to revive the measure before France's 2027 presidential election.
France's Constitutional Council struck down a law that would have barred children under 15 from using social media, ruling that it disproportionately violated freedom of expression and communication. The court also objected to the bill's age-verification rules, saying lawmakers failed to define the safeguards and limits for requiring users to prove their age. French lawmakers passed the measure in July, making France the first European Union country to adopt a blanket social media ban for that age group. Emmanuel Macron asked Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to quickly draft a new version that addresses the court's objections, with the Elysee saying the president wants the reform in force before the 2027 election.