ITIF - The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
08/14/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/14/2026 11:53
French Court Was Right to Reject Sweeping Social Media Ban, Says ITIF
WASHINGTON-Following the French Constitutional Council's decision to strike down a bill that would have banned children under 15 from accessing social media, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy, issued the following statement from Senior Policy Manager Ash Johnson:
The Constitutional Council rightfully recognized that the important goal of protecting young people online does not have to come at the expense of free speech and privacy. Sweeping social media bans unnecessarily put these priorities at odds when more targeted approaches can protect young people from specific online risks while preserving the educational, social, and expressive benefits of social media platforms.The court also rightly recognized the broader privacy implications of enforcing a blanket age restriction. Enforcing such bans requires age-assurance systems that can undermine privacy and online anonymity, risks that are particularly concerning when implemented on the rushed timeline President Macron and the French Parliament proposed.France now has the opportunity to slow down and correct its course away from hasty bans and toward policies that balance children's safety, user privacy, and free online expression. The court's decision should also serve as a reality check for other countries considering similar approaches.Contact: Nicole Hinojosa, [email protected]
ITIF - The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation published this content on August 14, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on August 14, 2026 at 17:53 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]