Ex-PM Attal urges Macron to put under-15 social media ban to referendum
Attal, the former prime minister and Renaissance presidential candidate, argued that a referendum could provide a faster route to introducing the measure while allowing the government to address the constitutional concerns raised by France's highest constitutional authority.
Macron moved quickly after the Constitutional Council's decision, asking Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on Friday to prepare a new version of the legislation that would be “legally sound”.
But Attal, writing in an article for La Tribune published on Sunday, said the revised measure should go further and be submitted directly to the public.
“This new measure, which must obviously take into account the Constitutional Council's observations, should be put directly to the French people via a referendum,” he wrote.
“It has been twenty-one years since the French people were last consulted directly. For so many French people, myself included, this is incomprehensible. There are few occasions as appropriate as this to give them a voice once again.”
France's last national referendum was held in 2005, when voters rejected the proposed European constitutional treaty.
Top French court scraps social media ban for children under 15
'A race against time'
Attal was closely involved in the parliamentary work that led to the social media legislation and has made protecting children from the potential harms of online platforms one of his political priorities.
He argued that beginning an entirely new legislative process following the Constitutional Council ruling could significantly delay the introduction of restrictions.
“A race against time has begun,” he wrote.
“If we were to start from scratch with a new legislative process, it would probably take up to two years for the ban to come into force.”
Attal said such a delay would leave around 1.5 million children spending an average of one hour and 47 minutes each day exposed to social media algorithms.
“Thanks to the referendum, we could therefore act without delay,” he added.
The debate over children's access to social networks has gathered momentum in France amid growing concern among politicians, parents and health professionals over excessive screen time, cyberbullying and the impact of online content on young people.
Macron has repeatedly pushed for tighter controls, making restrictions on social media use by younger teenagers one of the social measures he hopes will help define the closing stages of his presidency.
Attal believes a referendum could be held under Article 11 of the French Constitution, which allows certain legislation concerning the organisation of public authorities and aspects of economic, social or environmental policy to be submitted directly to voters.
He argued that legislation designed to protect children and including a ban on social media for under-15s would fall within the category of the nation's “social policy”.
EU warns France under-15 social media bill could breach European law
Constitutional hurdle
The Constitutional Council rejected the legislation on Friday, ruling that the restrictions on under-15s were not “appropriate, necessary or proportionate” to their freedom of expression and communication.
Macron has nevertheless asked Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to draft a revised version that meets constitutional requirements.