France's Constitutional Council blocks under-15 social media ban

Paris – France’s Constitutional Council has ruled that the recently enacted “anti‑hate speech” law violates the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression, declaring several of its provisions ultra‑vires. The contested measures, which required online platforms to remove illegal content within 24 hours and imposed heavy penalties on repeat offenders, were deemed disproportionate and insufficiently precise, potentially criminalising a broad range of lawful speech. The Council’s decision, delivered on Tuesday, nullifies the sections that mandated automatic takedowns and mandated the government to revise the legislation to align with constitutional standards.

President Emmanuel Macron responded immediately, affirming his intention to draft a new version of the law that respects free‑speech protections while addressing the rise of hateful content online. In a televised address, Macron pledged to consult legal experts, civil‑society groups and digital‑industry representatives before presenting a revised proposal to Parliament later this year. The administration’s next steps will focus on balancing the need for effective content moderation with the constitutional imperatives highlighted by the Council’s ruling.