France moves forward with high school mobile phone ban starting September

France's executive branch confirmed that a prohibition on mobile phone use in high schools will take effect at the start of the September school year. The policy stems from legislation passed in July that also aimed to bar children under 15 from social-media platforms, a clause the Constitutional Council recently invalidated. President Emmanuel Macron signed the law, and government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon stated the phone ban will move ahead despite the court's partial ruling.

Trade unions representing educators have cautioned that schools might find it difficult to implement the restriction in a short time frame. The move reflects Macron's broader campaign to reduce screen time among youth, which officials argue hampers development. No decision has yet been made regarding the social-media component of the law.