Macron Asks EU to Ban Social Media for Under-15s

Overview

• In a letter dated Aug. 29, President Emmanuel Macron asked Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to draft an EU law that would bar children under 15 from social platforms to "protect all children of the Union."
• France's bid follows the French Constitutional Council's decision in August to strike down a national ban as disproportionate while still warning that child protection is required.
• The Commission is due to set out proposals on Sept. 16 and faces a choice between Macron's uniform 15-year threshold and expert advice that favours a tiered system with stricter limits for younger children.
• Civil-society groups and some member states warn that an age-based ban raises free-expression, privacy and discrimination risks because the age checks being discussed depend on identity documents or other intrusive verification methods.
• Brussels already can force platform fixes under the Digital Services Act and other models exist, such as Australia's under-16 ban and proposals to let users switch off recommendation algorithms, so the Commission's decision will shape whether the EU uses access limits or technical and platform rules to protect minors.