France's top court affirms assisted-dying law while voiding teen social-media ban

France's Constitutional Council issued two contrasting rulings on Friday. It fully validated the assisted-dying law passed by parliament, confirming that patients with incurable, terminal illnesses may obtain medical assistance to end their lives if they give free and informed consent, while clarifying provisions such as a conscience clause for pharmacists and private treatment centres. At the same time, the council invalidated the legislation that sought to bar anyone under fifteen from accessing social-media platforms, citing insufficient safeguards for age-verification and privacy.

The assisted-dying decision was praised by former prime minister Elisabeth Borne, who highlighted the democratic process behind the measure. President Emmanuel Macron, who championed both policies, now faces the task of revising the social-media ban, with Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu tasked to produce a more robust draft. Amnesty International had earlier called for regulation of addictive platform features instead of a blanket prohibition.