French high court clears end-of-life bill while striking down youth social media ban
France's Constitutional Council approved end-of-life legislation with conscience clauses for private facilities, while rejecting a proposed social media ban for minors under 15.
France's Constitutional Council has approved legislation legalising assisted dying while striking down a contested provision that sought to ban social media access for minors under 15.
The high court ruled that the proposed social media restriction was of "general scope" and disproportionately restricted fundamental freedoms, invalidating a flagship digital policy championed by President Emmanuel Macron. However, magistrates upheld the overall end-of-life framework alongside an emergency agricultural bill.
In its decision, the council issued three interpretative reservations, notably guaranteeing a conscience clause for private and religious healthcare facilities to decline performing assisted dying procedures. The court emphasized that on major societal reforms, it could not substitute its assessment for that of parliamentarians. President Macron praised the decision, stating it completed 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 27, 2026, 09:00 PM UTCFrench court approves assisted dying while striking down social media ban for minors
- 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
- Oct 25, 2026, 02:00 PM UTCFrench court validates assisted dying bill but rejects social media ban for under-15s