French Constitutional Council approves assisted dying law and rejects under-15 social media ban
France's Constitutional Council has validated the country's assisted dying legislation with three reservations while rejecting a proposed social media ban for minors under 15.
France's Constitutional Council cleared the nation's new assisted dying law on Friday, ruling the legislation constitutional while establishing three specific reservations. Notably, the court upheld a conscience clause permitting private and religious healthcare facilities to opt out of offering the procedures. President Emmanuel Macron praised the ruling, stating it "completes an exemplary democratic debate."
Concurrently, the magistrates struck down the primary provision of a proposed digital safety law designed to ban social media access for children under 15 years old. The court determined that a general ban constituted an excessive restriction on fundamental freedoms. The council also approved emergency agricultural legislation submitted for review.
Sources: La Tribune, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Libération, Politico Europe (Defense)
Sources
- Le Monde — Le Conseil constitutionnel valide la loi sur la fin de vie, les établissements catholiques obtiennent leur « clause de conscience »
- Politico Europe (Defense) — Le Conseil Constitutionnel censure la loi interdisant les réseaux sociaux aux mineurs
- La Tribune — Aide à mourir et loi d'urgence agricole : ce que le Conseil constitutionnel a validé
- Le Figaro — Le Conseil constitutionnel valide la loi sur l’aide à mourir et retoque l’interdiction des réseaux sociaux aux mineurs de moins de 15 ans
- Libération — Droit à l’aide à mourir : le Conseil constitutionnel valide l’intégralité de la loi avec trois réserves
Earlier coverage
- Oct 26, 2026, 08:30 PM UTCFrench court upholds assisted dying law while striking down youth social media ban
- Oct 26, 2026, 03:00 PM UTCFrench court greenlights assisted dying while blocking youth social media ban
- Oct 26, 2026, 02:00 AM UTCFrench constitutional court approves end-of-life law and strikes down social media ban
- Oct 25, 2026, 08:30 PM UTCFrance's Constitutional Council validates assisted dying law while striking down social media ban for under-15s
- Oct 25, 2026, 08:00 PM UTCFrench court approves assisted dying law and rejects social media ban for minors
- Oct 25, 2026, 02:00 PM UTCFrench court validates assisted dying bill but rejects social media ban for under-15s
- Oct 25, 2026, 11:30 AM UTCFrench council approves assisted dying law and strikes down social media ban for minors
- Oct 25, 2026, 06:30 AM UTCFrance's Constitutional Council validates assisted dying law while striking down social media ban for under-15s
- Oct 25, 2026, 02:00 AM UTCFrench court validates end-of-life bill while striking down youth social media ban
- Oct 24, 2026, 08:30 PM UTCFrench court validates assisted dying bill and rejects youth social media ban