By Washira Helene
French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested that he might temporarily block social media networks in France in an effort to quell the ongoing riots that have erupted following the death of a 17-year-old driver who was killed by police on June 27.
The riots, which have been concentrated in the Paris suburb of Nanterre, have been marked by violence and looting.
Macron has said that social media is being used to “foment violence” and that the government will work with social media companies to remove content that incites violence especially social networks like TikTok, Telegram, and Snapchat.
Reports by News in France confirm that President Macron made the suggestion on Tuesday, July 4, while addressing the mayors of 200 communes gathered at the Elysée Palace and proposed steps to block social media sites in the event of future unrest.
“We need to think about social media and the bans that need to be put in place,” he stated. “And when things get out of hand, we may need to put ourselves in a position to regulate or cut them off.”
“We will not allow social media to be used to organize violence,” Macron furthered. “We will work with social media companies to remove content that incites violence and we will temporarily block social media networks if necessary.”
The suggestion has met with mixed reactions. Some people have welcomed the move, saying that it is necessary to stop the spread of violence. Others have criticized the move, saying that it is an infringement on freedom of expression.
Temporary social network blockades, whether partial or comprehensive, are not explicitly permitted under current French legislation, and the notion itself presents significant legal concerns.
The French Constitution, like European law, guarantees the right to free expression, and the Constitutional Council has ruled on multiple occasions that measures limiting freedom of expression in the name of maintaining public order must be proportionate and justified.
The riots in France are the latest in a series of protests that have erupted in the country in recent months. The protests have been sparked by a number of issues, including police brutality, economic inequality, and immigration.
It is unclear how long a social media block will last if it is implemented.
