France's Constitutional Council has blocked a bill that would have banned social media access for children under 15. The court ruled that denying access to platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, and Instagram would infringe upon freedom of expression, stating that the restriction is not appropriate, necessary, or proportionate.
The ruling is a setback for President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the legislation. The bill, which was approved in Parliament last month, was scheduled to take effect on September 1.
President Macron has tasked Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and the government to rewrite the legislation into a legally robust draft that accounts for the council's concerns. Macron remains determined to have the reform in place before the next presidential election and vowed to pass a new version before he leaves office next spring.