{"id":1156095,"date":"2026-08-18T18:51:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T18:51:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1156095\/"},"modified":"2026-08-18T18:51:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T18:51:22","slug":"after-frances-failed-attempt-who-will-be-first-to-shape-europes-answer-to-children-and-social-media-euobserver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1156095\/","title":{"rendered":"After France\u2019s failed attempt, who will be first to shape Europe\u2019s answer to children and social media? \u2013 EUobserver"},"content":{"rendered":"

French judges have struck down president Emmanuel Macron\u2019s pioneering social-media ban for minors, posing hard questions for a planned EU roll-out of similar measures. <\/p>\n

The Constitutional Council in Paris failed to pass his age-restriction bill on social media for under-15s in a ruling last Friday (14 August), on grounds of the vagueness of its details.<\/p>\n

They also said it breached the French constitution\u2019s rights to freedom of speech and private life, citing an age-verification mechanism that was not properly designed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The French National Assembly had passed the measure by 279 votes\u00a0to 81<\/a> on\u00a021 July, in an effort to protect young people from the storied anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, child predators, and online harassment that come with minors infinitely scrolling on devices.<\/p>\n

The blanket ban proposed by Macron\u2019s government had been argued against by parties on the left for placing the burden of compliance on children rather than the US social-media leviathans doing the harm. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cSuch a ban is neither necessary, appropriate, nor proportionate to the objective pursued, while other, less restrictive measures would protect minors,\u201d France\u2019s top court said<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Elys\u00e9e reacted in a statement<\/a> that the Macron remained \u201cfully committed to bringing this reform to fruition by spring 2027,\u201d as a legacy measure at the end of his mandate, rather than 1 September this year, as originally planned.<\/p>\n

Macron also tasked his PM, S\u00e9bastien Lecornu, to work \u201cas quickly as possible\u201d on a new draft that took into account the Constitutional Court’s gripes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ball in Brussels’ court<\/p>\n

And even parties who had initially contested the measure still held that \u201ca firm stance towards platforms to protect young people and regulate their sordid business is more necessary than ever,\u201d according to opposition socialist MP Arthur Delaporte.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are aware of the dangers they pose and their deadly algorithms. It is these harmful features that must be combated. At European level, initiatives are in place: France must exert its influence to ensure they are implemented as quickly as possible,\u201d Delaporte told EUobserver.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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