In the week leading up to October 24, the French government explored ways to block social networks during the protests last Saturday. Two sources familiar with the plan stated that the French Ministry of the Interior has been in contact with mobile operators to examine the possibility of cutting access to social networks or even mobile internet in certain areas.
Request from mobile operators
This pressure culminated in a request from Sébastien Lecornu, the French Prime Minister, who told mobile operators that they should be prepared to block access to TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and X. This request was revealed in a letter published by a French digital media outlet.
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Concerns about a repeat of violence
The government was concerned that the violent scenes seen on October 17 could be repeated or escalated. However, on October 24, far fewer incidents were reported. One employee of a telecommunications company said, "They particularly wanted to block communication channels that allow gangs to meet and organize with each other."
However, this action would also disrupt communications for peaceful protesters. Blocking access to social networks in a specific area is technically not feasible, and cutting off mobile internet access could cause major disruptions to other key services such as mobile payments, security devices, and emergency communications.
Other solutions under consideration
The government also considered a less radical solution that could deactivate location features to "prevent gatherings of individuals who do not know each other." This action is being discussed as part of a bill called "the one who breaks, pays," which holds individuals who "intentionally participated in a riot" financially responsible.
This bill also requires platforms to remove content that incites physical or sexual assault, theft, destruction, or damage to property within 24 hours, and content that encourages riots within one hour. Other lawmakers have proposed additional measures that include tracking troublemakers through algorithmic video surveillance and penalizing online marketplaces that fail to prevent the sale of stolen goods.
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