France's Constitutional Council has blocked a law that would have prohibited children under the age of 15 from using social media, ruling that it violates freedom of expression. The decision, reported by Podrobno.uz, deals a significant blow to the French regime's efforts to regulate minors' online activity.

The Council argued that the legislation infringed upon constitutional guarantees of free speech. In July, the French Parliament had approved the law, which would have made France the first European Union country to introduce such a restriction. The measure was passed by both chambers of parliament — the Senate and the National Assembly — on July 21.

Under French legislative procedures, after parliamentary approval, normative acts are submitted to the Constitutional Council for review and are signed by the president only if no violations are found. The Council's ruling means the law will not take effect, marking a setback for proponents of stricter online safety measures for minors.

Critics of the decision argue that it leaves children vulnerable to harmful content and online predators, while supporters of the ruling emphasize the importance of protecting fundamental rights. The debate over how to reconcile child safety with freedom of expression is likely to continue, as similar legislative efforts are being considered in other EU member states.

Source: podrobno.uz