Paris, Aug 14 (EFE).- France’s top court on Friday struck down a law banning social media access for children under 15, saying the measure disproportionately infringed on freedom of expression and did not provide sufficient safeguards for privacy.
In its ruling, the Constitutional Council also justified the annulment of the central provision on the grounds that it failed to provide adequate legal guarantees to protect the right to privacy.
The judges acknowledged that the constitution requires the protection of “the best interests of the child” and that this can justify restricting minors’ access to social networks, but said the restriction could not be imposed in the manner provided for by the law.
The council said lawmakers can establish mechanisms to prevent abuses of freedom of expression and communication when they threaten public order or the rights of others, including minors.
However, it stressed that freedom of expression “is a condition of democracy and one of the guarantees for the respect of other rights and freedoms.”
