**The French president has raised the idea of limiting or even cutting off access to social media platforms during episodes of urban violence – a practice until now reserved for authoritarian regimes.**
Addressing the mayors of 200 communes gathered at the Elysée Palace on Tuesday, July 4, French President Emmanuel Macron raised the idea of measures to block social media platforms in the event of new riots. “We need to have a think about social media, about the bans we need to put in place,” he said. “And when things get out of hand, we may need to put ourselves in a position to regulate or cut them off.”
A few hours later in the Sénat, during debates on the bill to “secure the digital environment,” Jean-Noël Barrot, minister delegate in charge of the Digital Transition, referred to a “reflection” on the subject that could be completed by the autumn. “The president of the Republic himself said earlier that we must not take measures that are too harsh in the heat of the moment that we may regret later, but we need to start thinking about this. I propose that we engage in this reflection together [as part of the discussions on the digital bill] so that by September we can find the wording that will suit us.”
Temporary blockades of social networks, whether partial or complete, are not explicitly provided for under current French law, and the principle itself raises important legal questions. The French Constitution, like European law, guarantees the right to freedom of expression, and the Constitutional Council has ruled on several occasions that measures limiting this in the name of protecting public order must be proportionate and justified. In 2020, the Council notably ruled that the “Avia law” (named for its proponent, MP Laetitia Avia) on online hate, which required social networks to remove “hateful” content within 24 hours, constituted “an infringement on the exercise of freedom of expression and communication that is not necessary, appropriate and proportionate”.
**Easy to implement, and to circumvent**
Is it technically possible to temporarily block social networks? In theory, yes. In practice, this would probably involve the Domain Name System (DNS), the routing system used by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). These servers are used to correctly direct data circulating on the internet and are essential to the smooth operation of browsers and applications alike.
In some cases, either by court order or at the direct request of the police, French ISPs are already blocking certain sites with illegal content. They modify their DNS – those wishing to access a blocked site are automatically redirected to another address. As Macron suggests, such a block would also extend to the smartphone applications of major social networks, such as Snapchat or Twitter, which would no longer be able to communicate with their servers.
Some countries have already blocked social networks on their territory. Turkey, for example, has repeatedly blocked sites including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, notably in 2014 and 2015, with varying degrees of success. While DNS blocks are easy to implement, they’re also easily circumvented, including on mobile devices. Some messaging services and social networks, notably Telegram, which was used extensively during the riots, have also set up technical infrastructures to avoid DNS blocking, with some success. In the past, Iran and Russia have tried to block access to the service, without really succeeding.
he has lost touch and control of the country long time ago.
and while I do not support the rioters and other criminals, that country needs to have a serious talk about its current status and where it wants to be in a century from now.
Paracetamol
Erdogan style?
I support this, and also when there are no riots around.
Did his plan to blame this shitshow on videogames didn’t work out?
Sounds pretty totalitarian
very democratic
this is the man who fervently speaks about the rule of law and european values
what a joke this has become
I guess Macron want more riots.
Has France arrested the cops who shot the kid?
much democracy wow such free speach wow
Well. Coincidentally twitter left the chat.
This is a corollary of the “we must use social media to stop misinformation” debate and why those in favor of using social media to pump the government line are wrong.
It became so comon to not go for the roots and reasons of an issue but just for the symptoms. Nothing gets solved that way but taking the easy retard way became the norm. Populism won!
Objectively speaking, social media is the root of all evil. From Karens hulk smashing food businesses to human trafficking, weird election outcomes and anti-semites turning up to the black lives matter riots. Macron and his gang are no good at it, that’s their problem.
Christ, I thought the shitshow we had in Britain was bad. Mind you, at least the French *actually fucking do something about it.* English just chew on phlegm, bah.
Liberalism is objectively the moderate wing of fascism.
Yes, let’s copy Russia, China and middle eastern dictatorships….
So basically no free speech?
Is this dude a dictator?
That’s right out of Iran, Russia, China, and Turkey, no?
Blame video games
Suggests to block social media
He is ready to run Turkey
Anything but reduce immigration numbers.
I have been warning people for a long time that we are gradually returning to an authoritarian regime with this President. Censorship, repression, propaganda, manipulation of the masses, etc. It is not because there is no fascism that there is no dictator. His way of governing reminds me more and more of that of Putin and his “United Russia” party. This man is dangerous for democracy and human rights. Wake up !
If a non western country did this, the west would criticize them and say it was violating human rights. When macron blocks the internet, everything is fine, nothing to see here. This is the hypocrisy that has the rest of the world tired of the west’s hollow words.
Another attack by the French government against free speach and freedom of internet.
Seems like Xi Jinping shared some of his secrets when they met but we all forgot about that I guess
Terrorist activities from the weak and “powerful”
Average western leaders who turn into Erdogan in 30 seconds.
Oh boy… dictatorship much?
The Chinese boot licker emulating them
Nothing screams “Liberte” more than the blocking of people’s ability to talk
Macron is walking the fine line
Damn. I’d be rioting too if my head of government suggested that…
This is fair imo, considering how much of the protest has been organized on social media.
35 comments
**The French president has raised the idea of limiting or even cutting off access to social media platforms during episodes of urban violence – a practice until now reserved for authoritarian regimes.**
Addressing the mayors of 200 communes gathered at the Elysée Palace on Tuesday, July 4, French President Emmanuel Macron raised the idea of measures to block social media platforms in the event of new riots. “We need to have a think about social media, about the bans we need to put in place,” he said. “And when things get out of hand, we may need to put ourselves in a position to regulate or cut them off.”
A few hours later in the Sénat, during debates on the bill to “secure the digital environment,” Jean-Noël Barrot, minister delegate in charge of the Digital Transition, referred to a “reflection” on the subject that could be completed by the autumn. “The president of the Republic himself said earlier that we must not take measures that are too harsh in the heat of the moment that we may regret later, but we need to start thinking about this. I propose that we engage in this reflection together [as part of the discussions on the digital bill] so that by September we can find the wording that will suit us.”
Temporary blockades of social networks, whether partial or complete, are not explicitly provided for under current French law, and the principle itself raises important legal questions. The French Constitution, like European law, guarantees the right to freedom of expression, and the Constitutional Council has ruled on several occasions that measures limiting this in the name of protecting public order must be proportionate and justified. In 2020, the Council notably ruled that the “Avia law” (named for its proponent, MP Laetitia Avia) on online hate, which required social networks to remove “hateful” content within 24 hours, constituted “an infringement on the exercise of freedom of expression and communication that is not necessary, appropriate and proportionate”.
**Easy to implement, and to circumvent**
Is it technically possible to temporarily block social networks? In theory, yes. In practice, this would probably involve the Domain Name System (DNS), the routing system used by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). These servers are used to correctly direct data circulating on the internet and are essential to the smooth operation of browsers and applications alike.
In some cases, either by court order or at the direct request of the police, French ISPs are already blocking certain sites with illegal content. They modify their DNS – those wishing to access a blocked site are automatically redirected to another address. As Macron suggests, such a block would also extend to the smartphone applications of major social networks, such as Snapchat or Twitter, which would no longer be able to communicate with their servers.
Some countries have already blocked social networks on their territory. Turkey, for example, has repeatedly blocked sites including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, notably in 2014 and 2015, with varying degrees of success. While DNS blocks are easy to implement, they’re also easily circumvented, including on mobile devices. Some messaging services and social networks, notably Telegram, which was used extensively during the riots, have also set up technical infrastructures to avoid DNS blocking, with some success. In the past, Iran and Russia have tried to block access to the service, without really succeeding.
**Read the full article at this link:** [https://www.lemonde.fr/en/pixels/article/2023/07/05/macron-suggests-blocking-social-media-during-riots_6043565_13.html](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/pixels/article/2023/07/05/macron-suggests-blocking-social-media-during-riots_6043565_13.html)
of course he does
he has lost touch and control of the country long time ago.
and while I do not support the rioters and other criminals, that country needs to have a serious talk about its current status and where it wants to be in a century from now.
Paracetamol
Erdogan style?
I support this, and also when there are no riots around.
Did his plan to blame this shitshow on videogames didn’t work out?
Sounds pretty totalitarian
very democratic
this is the man who fervently speaks about the rule of law and european values
what a joke this has become
I guess Macron want more riots.
Has France arrested the cops who shot the kid?
much democracy wow such free speach wow
Well. Coincidentally twitter left the chat.
This is a corollary of the “we must use social media to stop misinformation” debate and why those in favor of using social media to pump the government line are wrong.
It became so comon to not go for the roots and reasons of an issue but just for the symptoms. Nothing gets solved that way but taking the easy retard way became the norm. Populism won!
Objectively speaking, social media is the root of all evil. From Karens hulk smashing food businesses to human trafficking, weird election outcomes and anti-semites turning up to the black lives matter riots. Macron and his gang are no good at it, that’s their problem.
Christ, I thought the shitshow we had in Britain was bad. Mind you, at least the French *actually fucking do something about it.* English just chew on phlegm, bah.
Liberalism is objectively the moderate wing of fascism.
Yes, let’s copy Russia, China and middle eastern dictatorships….
So basically no free speech?
Is this dude a dictator?
That’s right out of Iran, Russia, China, and Turkey, no?
Blame video games
Suggests to block social media
He is ready to run Turkey
Anything but reduce immigration numbers.
I have been warning people for a long time that we are gradually returning to an authoritarian regime with this President. Censorship, repression, propaganda, manipulation of the masses, etc. It is not because there is no fascism that there is no dictator. His way of governing reminds me more and more of that of Putin and his “United Russia” party. This man is dangerous for democracy and human rights. Wake up !
If a non western country did this, the west would criticize them and say it was violating human rights. When macron blocks the internet, everything is fine, nothing to see here. This is the hypocrisy that has the rest of the world tired of the west’s hollow words.
Another attack by the French government against free speach and freedom of internet.
Seems like Xi Jinping shared some of his secrets when they met but we all forgot about that I guess
Terrorist activities from the weak and “powerful”
Average western leaders who turn into Erdogan in 30 seconds.
Oh boy… dictatorship much?
The Chinese boot licker emulating them
Nothing screams “Liberte” more than the blocking of people’s ability to talk
Macron is walking the fine line
Damn. I’d be rioting too if my head of government suggested that…
This is fair imo, considering how much of the protest has been organized on social media.