France has the right to ban social media platforms for under-15s, in line with a proposition in a bill passed by its lower house of parliament, though enforcement of the measure would lie with the European Union, the Commission said on Tuesday, January 27.
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France's Assemblée Nationale approves social media ban for under-15s
"The French authorities have the right to establish a digital age for their citizens," commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier told reporters, adding that the giant online service companies had an "obligation" to "respect the national legislation." Provided the French bill conforms with EU law, "the commission will enforce it towards the Very Large Online Platforms," he said, using the term designating tech giants under the bloc's Digital Services Act (DSA) rules on online content.
In particular, Regnier said it would ultimately be up to the EU to ensure that platforms implement adequate age verification tools to help any ban become a reality. Regnier indicated that enforcement could be carried out via a European age-verification tool that was being tested by several countries, including France, with member states obliged to offer that tool or an equivalent by the end of the year.
