France's Constitutional Council has ruled that a law banning children under 15 from using social media is unconstitutional. The decision reverses an initiative that the country's parliament adopted in July, and President Emmanuel Macron had hoped to implement as early as September.

The council stated that the ban excessively restricts the freedom of expression and communication of minors, and that the measure itself is not “appropriate, necessary, and proportionate.”

As reported by the BBC, citing AFP, following the publication of the decision, the Elysée Palace announced that Macron had instructed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to prepare a new, "legally reliable" bill as soon as possible.

The repealed law required users to verify their age when creating new social media accounts starting in September. Beginning in January 2027, individuals under 15 were planned to be completely banned from social media.