France is pressing ahead with a ban on mobile phones in high schools from next month, even as its top court struck down a separate social media age restriction for minors. The government announced the decision on Monday, with spokeswoman Maud Bregeon saying President Emmanuel Macron "has decided to promulgate the law" containing the phone ban, after the Constitutional Council rejected the social media provision.
The phone ban was part of a broader legislative package approved by parliament in July, which also included a measure requiring social media users to be at least 15 years old. That age-verification requirement was overturned by the Constitutional Council in a ruling on 14 August, which said the measure was "neither necessary, appropriate, nor proportionate to the objective pursued, while other, less restrictive measures would protect minors." The court also cited concerns about vagueness and breaches of freedom of speech and private life.
The social media ban was championed by Macron as a way to shield young people from anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, child predators, and online harassment. But left-leaning parties had argued during the legislative debate that the measure placed the burden of compliance on children rather than on the technology companies behind the platforms.
The government's response has been to acknowledge the court's criticisms and commit to revising the proposal. A statement from the Elysée said Macron remained "fully committed to bringing this reform to fruition by spring 2027," pushing back the original target of 1 September. The president has tasked Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu with drafting new legislation "as quickly as possible" that addresses the court's objections.
Opposition socialist MP Arthur Delaporte, who had contested the original plan, said the court's ruling did not weaken the case for regulation. "A firm stance towards platforms to protect young people and regulate their sordid business is more necessary than ever," he said. "We are aware of the dangers they pose and their deadly algorithms. It is these harmful features that must be combated." Delaporte also pointed to ongoing initiatives at the European level and called on France to push for their speedy implementation.
Trade unions, meanwhile, have cautioned that the high school phone ban could be difficult to enforce quickly, though the government has signalled it intends to proceed regardless. The Constitutional Council did not rule on the phone ban, leaving that part of the law intact.