French court blocks Macron's social media ban for under-15s

France's highest constitutional authority has struck down the government's ban on social media access for children under 15, ruling that the measure infringed freedom of expression and privacy, according to The Guardian. The decision is a setback for President Macron, who had backed the restriction as part of a push to protect young people online.

The Constitutional Council concluded that the law went too far as written, and the president has said he will rework the legislation. The ruling arrives as momentum builds worldwide for age-based restrictions, including the Australian-style approach that other governments have been studying.

What to watch now is how French lawmakers redraft the measure to survive constitutional review, and whether other countries weighing similar curbs adjust their plans in light of the court's reasoning. The decision highlights the difficulty of shielding minors online without overstepping rights that courts guard closely.