Gabriel Attal, the presidential candidate of France, reiterated the need to grant the government the authority to temporarily and selectively block social media to prevent the escalation of riots following widespread unrest in France.
Necessity of Temporary Measures
Attal stated in an interview with a French radio station: "You have young people at home seeing their friends going looting, which creates the impression that they easily pass over these actions; they see these scenes on social media and then go out to the streets themselves."
This presidential candidate, who previously served as Prime Minister of France and currently leads Emmanuel Macron's political party, emphasized that these measures should be "temporary" and "limited to the area where the riots are occurring."
Previous Experiences in Blocking Networks
During Attal's premiership in 2024, France blocked access to TikTok in one of its remote territories, New Caledonia, due to widespread protests. However, the French Administrative Supreme Court ruled that this suspension constituted a "disproportionate violation of rights and freedoms."
It is unclear whether Attal's new proposal can pass judicial review, as last summer, the French Constitutional Council, responsible for reviewing the compliance of laws with the constitution, blocked a bill seeking to prohibit access to social media for individuals under 15 years old due to disproportionate violations of children's rights to freedom of expression and communication.
Comparison with Other Countries
Internet restrictions are typically associated with countries like China, Iran, and Russia, which either have permanent blocks on certain social media platforms or have recently restricted them during protests. India and Iran have even completely blocked access to the internet.
This type of action is rarely seen in democratic countries and raises concerns regarding freedom of expression and human rights. However, Attal believes that in crisis situations, the government should be able to take necessary measures to maintain public safety.
