By Tag Clar Editorial
In the latest developments, France must change its laws regarding social media. The European Union has announced that the new law passed in the French Senate does not fully comply with EU regulations due to interference with Brussels' powers.
Legal and Regulatory Challenges
The French Senate is reviewing two different versions of this law: one is the initial draft from the National Assembly that refers to a general ban for children under 15 years old, and the other is a revised version that aims to specify a list of 'harmful' online services. This issue has led the law to be placed in a mediation committee, and further changes are possible.
Criticism from the European Union is mainly directed at the draft from the French Senate. This draft seeks to introduce a list of banned online services for children under 15 years old, while other services will be allowed with parental approval. From the Commission's perspective, this action means granting excessive powers to French authorities and could interfere with the legal powers of the European Union.
The European Commission is responsible for overseeing major social networks such as Snapchat, Instagram, and YouTube, and only they have the right to impose penalties in case of legal violations. Therefore, France needs assistance from Brussels in enforcing the social media ban, as ultimately, it is the Commission that must ensure companies comply with the legal age.
A spokesperson for the European Commission stated in a statement that their goal and that of French officials is shared: "Better protection of teenagers in the online space." France is recognized as a leader in this discussion on a global scale.
While Australia became the first country in the world last year to introduce a social media ban for users under 16 years old, other EU countries such as Austria, Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Greece are also working to limit children's access to online services. Even Germany is considering such measures.
