French court validates assisted dying bill while rejecting social media ban for minors
France's Constitutional Council has approved assisted dying legislation while striking down a proposed social media ban for minors under 15 as disproportionate.
France’s Constitutional Council has validated the country's new end-of-life legislation and an emergency agricultural law while striking down a proposed ban on social media access for minors under 15.
The council ruled that a blanket social media restriction for younger teenagers was disproportionate and excessively infringed upon fundamental personal freedoms, effectively invalidating a key digital initiative supported by President Emmanuel Macron.
Conversely, the high court upheld the law establishing a right to assisted dying, issuing three interpretative reservations. Most notably, these guarantees allow private and religious healthcare facilities to invoke a conscience clause to opt out of offering end-of-life procedures. Magistrates noted that the court could not substitute its judgment for parliament's on broad societal reforms. Macron praised the ruling, stating it completes an "exemplary democratic debate."
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, 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
- 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