France might seek restrictions on VPN use in campaign to keep minors off social media
France might seek restrictions on VPN use in campaign to keep minors off social media
Publish Date: 2026-02-02 15:53:00
Source Domain: www.engadget.com
- France is advancing a proposed ban on social media use for anyone under the age of 15, and some leaders are considering additional restrictions.
- Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs Anne Le Hénanff suggested that VPNs could be the next target as they might allow minors to bypass the social media ban.
- The French social media ban has passed a vote in France’s National Assembly, moving it forward for discussion in the Senate.
- Critics are concerned that these protective measures could veer into an authoritarian direction, particularly with regard to privacy and personal data.
- The legislative actions in France echo similar initiatives worldwide, raising concerns over privacy and the potential for age verification processes to become targets for hacks due to frequent data breaches.
