The French government is considering ad hoc restrictions on certain “functionalities” of social networks in the event of new riots, but does not intend to carry out a “generalized blackout” of the platforms, a spokesperson assured Wednesday after controversial presidential remarks.
“It can be feature suspensions,” government spokesman Olivier Véran said, referring to the tools available during situations such as the riots that rocked France last week, sparked by the death of a teenager, Nahel, shot at close range by a police officer on 27 June.
“For example, you have geolocation functions, on certain platforms, which allow young people to find themselves in such a place, by showing scenes, how to set fires, etc. [Ce sont] calls for the organization of hatred in the public space and there, you have the authority to be able to suspend”, he said while reporting to the Council of Ministers.
Olivier Véran was invited to clarify comments made the day before by President Emmanuel Macron to some 300 mayors of municipalities who were victims of violence during the riots.
According to the entourage of the Head of State, the latter “has at no time said that he was planning to cut the networks in the sense of a generalized blackout”. It is about “being able to punctually and temporarily suspend social networks”, added this source.
“We need to have a reflection on the use of these networks among the youngest, in families, at school, the prohibitions that must be put in place”, underlined President Macron, according to comments reported by the press and confirmed by the Élysée.
The reactions were quick. “Cut off social networks? Like China, Iran, North Korea? ” quipped the president of the group Les Républicains (right) in the National Assembly, Olivier Marleix, on Twitter, deploring a “provocation in very bad taste”.
“OK Kim Jong Un”, exclaimed in the same register the president of the group La France Insoumise (radical left) in the Assembly, Mathilde Panot, in reference to the North Korean leader.
“That would be to renounce the idea that democracy is stronger than the tools that are used against it. It would be a mistake”, also estimated the deputy of the presidential party Renaissance Eric Bothorel.
The Minister responsible for the Digital Transition, Jean-Noël Barrot, proposed Tuesday evening in the Senate the establishment of a working group on the measures to be taken in the event of riots, which could be integrated into the bill to ” secure” the Internet.