The French Parliament has adopted a law aimed at prohibiting access to online social network services for minors under fifteen years old.

Adopted on July 21, this law requires social network platforms to block access to their services for minors under 15 years old. The broad definition of "online social network service" could concern not only commercial platforms but also decentralized networks and instant messaging. Although the law mandates age verification, it does not specify the technical methods to be implemented, with the government seemingly ruling out age estimation devices in favor of identity verification. Its application is scheduled for September 1, 2026, subject to validation by the Constitutional Council, which will be seized by parliamentary oppositions.

Regarding sanctions, the powers initially planned for the Audiovisual and Digital Communication Regulatory Authority (Arcom) were removed from the final text. The age verification obligation is now integrated into the law for trust in the digital economy (LCEN), which would allow the judicial authority to order technical intermediaries to take necessary measures to stop a breach. The compliance of this law with European law is questioned, notably in light of a June ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) which limits such national regulations, requiring that they are not general obligations and remain proportionate.