Particle.news
Download on the App Store

French Assembly Backs Under‑15 Social Media Ban as EU Affirms Right to Set ‘Digital Majority’

The plan targets new accounts from September 2026 with universal age checks due by January 1, 2027.

Overview

  • Lawmakers approved the bill’s central article restricting access to major social networks for those under 15, and the text now moves to the Senate for examination in the coming weeks.
  • The European Commission said France may define a national digital age of majority, though alignment with the Digital Services Act will be scrutinized during enforcement.
  • Private interpersonal messaging such as WhatsApp and some educational platforms are excluded, and non‑compliant services could face fines of up to 6% of their turnover, according to the rapporteur.
  • Officials are weighing a trusted third‑party system for age checks using facial analysis or identity‑document upload, while experts warn of privacy risks, circumvention and GDPR constraints.
  • Reports differed on the exact vote tally, and legal as well as technical hurdles raise doubts about delivering a fully workable system by the start of the 2026 school year.