Science & Tech · AI · 36 mins ago
Macron calls for AI bans where it risks children's mental health
French President Emmanuel Macron says AI should be banned where it risks children's mental health.
He made the comments in France on Monday, as he also called for attention to AI's effects on democratic and national security.
An expert committee is due to give him recommendations on protecting people from AI, an area less explored than the effects of social networks.
At the Paris Peace Forum, research labs are due to sign a charter committing to measures including independent evaluations of generative AI systems.
Companies are expected to accept reviews of AI models before they reach children, along with access to data about those models.
Macron says he wants to advance European rules and encourage other countries to follow, while around 50 national leaders and technology executives have discussed AI risks.
Emmanuel Macron said artificial intelligence should be banned when it risks harming children’s mental health or brains.
He made the comments on Monday, November 9, in an interview with Les Echos.
An expert committee was due to give him recommendations on protection against AI on Tuesday.
Research labs were expected to sign a charter covering independent evaluations of generative AI systems and access to model data.
The charter was intended to inform national and European legislative debates.
- Who
- French President Emmanuel Macron.
- What
- He called for AI to be banned where it risks children’s mental health or brains.
- When
- Monday, November 9, 2026.
- Where
- In an interview with the French daily Les Echos.
- Why
- He said AI can pose risks to children’s mental health and brains.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Macron said AI should be banned wherever it poses a risk to children’s mental health.
An expert committee was due to present Macron with recommendations on protection against AI.
Research labs were expected to commit to measures including independent evaluations of generative AI systems.
- French president
- Emmanuel Macron
- Statement date
- November 9, 2026
- Expert recommendations
- Due Tuesday
- Charter participants
- Research labs, including OpenAI and Anthropic
- Charter measures
- Independent evaluations and access to models’ data
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What people are saying
If there is a risk for children with certain uses of AI, then it must be banned.
Just because it's AI doesn't mean it should be the Wild West.
Companies will accept "the principle of a pre-audit and pre-certification, with a prior review of the models before putting them in children's hands,
The diagnosis is shared. We must act together.