France submits new proposal to ban social media for under

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Published: 2026-09-14T09:56:11.057Z • Permanent link

France's Constitutional Council dealt a significant blow to the country's proposed legislation aimed at banning social media for minors under the age of 16. The council's decision, made public in late August, came after a review of the proposed law, which had been met with widespread criticism from civil liberties groups, tech companies, and lawmakers alike. The proposed law, known as the "Social Media Regulation Act," was championed by French Education Minister, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, who argued that social media platforms were failing to adequately protect children from online exploitation and cyberbullying.

At the heart of the controversy was a provision that would have required social media companies to implement strict age verification measures and restrict access to their platforms for minors. However, the Constitutional Council found that this provision was overly broad and infringed upon the freedom of expression of those affected. The council's decision effectively struck down the entire bill, sending shockwaves through the tech industry and civil liberties communities. French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to revisit the issue, but it remains to be seen whether the government will be able to craft a new law that balances the need to protect minors with the need to safeguard free speech.

French lawmakers had been under pressure to act following a series of high-profile incidents involving minors and social media, including the notorious "GameStop short squeeze" and a string of online harassment cases. The proposed law was seen as a way to address these concerns, but critics argued that it was too broad and would stifle free speech online. Social media companies, including Google, Facebook, and Twitter, had also expressed concerns about the potential impact on their businesses, citing the need for more targeted and effective regulation.

The French government's decision to scrap the Social Media Regulation Act has significant implications for the Data Sources domain, particularly for companies that operate in the European Union. The EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has already imposed strict rules on data processing and online tracking, and the French government's attempt to extend these regulations to social media platforms was seen as a key test of the GDPR's effectiveness. The failure of the Social Media Regulation Act means that the EU will need to develop new regulations that balance the need to protect minors with the need to safeguard free speech online.

Google has already taken steps to address concerns about online safety and exploitation, including the introduction of new tools and features aimed at detecting and preventing cyberbullying. However, the company has also expressed concerns about the need for more targeted and effective regulation, citing the need to avoid over-regulation that could stifle innovation and free speech online. The failure of the French government's proposed law means that the EU will need to develop a more nuanced approach to regulating social media, one that balances the need to protect minors with the need to safeguard free speech and promote innovation.

The French government's decision to scrap the Social Media Regulation Act is part of a larger pattern of regulatory activity aimed at addressing concerns about online safety and exploitation. In recent years, several countries, including the UK, Australia, and Singapore, have introduced new regulations aimed at regulating social media and online tracking. These regulations have been shaped by a range of factors, including concerns about data protection, online safety, and the spread of misinformation. The failure of the French government's proposed law highlights the challenges of developing effective regulations that balance competing interests and values.