PARIS: France has passed a new law aimed at combating cyberbullying and safeguarding minors on social media platforms. The legislation, approved on Thursday, June 29, requires platforms such as TikTok to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent for individuals under the age of 15.
The move is part of the government’s efforts to protect children online and reduce the harmful effects of excessive screen time. Digital Transition Minister Jean-Noel Barrot described the law as “landmark” and stated that it would be implemented as soon as possible.
While the specific date for the enforcement of the age verification bill is yet to be determined, the Senate’s approval marks a significant step forward. The European Commission is expected to review the law’s compliance with EU regulations. Once in effect, social media sites will have one year to comply with the policy for new subscribers and an additional two years to apply the requirements to existing users.
Lawmakers expressed concerns regarding issues such as pornography, cyberstalking, unattainable beauty standards, and the addictive nature of social media platforms, particularly for young users. Existing regulations, primarily focused on data collection, have proven insufficient in curbing children’s access to social media.
Although French law theoretically prohibits users under the age of 13 from accessing these platforms, the French National Commission for Technology and Freedoms (CNIL) reports that more than half of children aged 10-14 are active on sites like Snapchat and Instagram, with some signing up as young as eight years old.
Parental Approval for Using Social Media
Under the new law, social media platforms will be explicitly required to obtain parental approval for users under 15. Technical solutions that adhere to guidelines established by the French Arcom regulator will be employed for age verification. Violations of the law could result in fines of up to 1 percent of a company’s global revenues. Additionally, the legislation grants parents the right to request the suspension of accounts belonging to their children under 15 and mandates that platforms provide tools to limit the amount of time children spend on the platforms.
Despite the positive step, Laurent Marcangeli, the lawmaker who spearheaded the act, admitted that it would not fully address concerns regarding children’s online safety. He emphasized the need for advancements in age verification technology and increased investment in digital education for parents, children, and teachers.
French lawmakers have recently proposed another bill to protect children’s image rights from abuses by parents on social networks, which is still pending drafting into law. In March, measures were also introduced in parliament to address children’s overexposure to screens. Next week, Minister Barrot is expected to defend a bill that aims to “secure and regulate the digital space,” including requirements for pornographic websites to verify the age of their users.
