French Constitutional Council approves assisted dying law while striking down youth social media ban
France's Constitutional Council has approved assisted dying legislation while rejecting a social media ban for minors under 15.
France’s Constitutional Council has approved landmark legislation establishing a right to assisted dying, alongside an emergency agricultural law, while striking down a proposed ban on social media for minors under 15.
The high court validated the end-of-life reform with three interpretative reservations. Crucially, these guarantees allow private and religious healthcare facilities to invoke a conscience clause to opt out of performing end-of-life procedures. Magistrates emphasized that the court could not substitute its own judgment for parliament's on broad societal issues. President Emmanuel Macron praised the ruling, stating it completes an "exemplary democratic debate."
Conversely, the council rejected the social media ban for younger teenagers, ruling that the general restriction disproportionately infringed upon fundamental personal freedoms. The decision invalidates a flagship digital initiative championed by Macron.
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 28, 2026, 06:00 PM UTCFrench Constitutional Council approves end-of-life law while rejecting social media ban for minors
- Oct 28, 2026, 03:00 PM UTCFrench court clears assisted dying law while striking down social media ban for minors
- Oct 28, 2026, 02:00 AM UTCFrench court validates assisted dying bill while rejecting social media ban for minors
- Oct 28, 2026, 12:00 AM UTCFrench court approves assisted dying law while blocking youth social media ban
- Oct 27, 2026, 09:00 PM UTCFrench court approves assisted dying while striking down social media ban for minors
- Oct 27, 2026, 03:00 PM UTCFrench high court clears end-of-life bill while striking down youth social media ban
- Oct 27, 2026, 08:30 AM UTCFrench Constitutional Council approves end-of-life law and rejects minor social media ban
- Oct 27, 2026, 02:30 AM UTCFrench court approves assisted dying law and rejects social media ban for minors
- Oct 26, 2026, 08:30 PM UTCFrench court upholds assisted dying law while striking down youth social media ban
- Oct 26, 2026, 08:00 PM UTCFrench Constitutional Council approves assisted dying law and rejects under-15 social media ban