French court approves assisted dying while striking down social media ban for minors
France's Constitutional Council has validated legislation establishing a right to assisted dying while striking down a proposed social media ban for minors under 15.
France's Constitutional Council has validated legislation establishing a right to assisted dying, alongside an emergency agricultural law, while striking down a proposed social media ban for minors under 15.
The court ruled that the social media restriction was of "general scope" and disproportionately restricted fundamental freedoms, invalidating a key digital initiative championed by President Emmanuel Macron.
Regarding the end-of-life framework, the council declared the text constitutional while issuing three interpretative reservations. Crucially, these reservations ensure a conscience clause allowing private and religious healthcare facilities to decline performing assisted dying procedures. Magistrates noted that on major societal reforms, the court could not substitute its assessment for parliamentarians.
President Macron praised the decision, stating it completed an "exemplary democratic debate."
Sources: Le Figaro, La Tribune, 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, 12:00 AM UTCFrench court approves assisted dying law while blocking youth social media ban
- 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
- 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