Interior Minister considers social media cutoff

The French Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nuñez, has expressed interest in temporarily blocking social media in areas affected by violent events, particularly in cases of coordinated looting. This idea was first proposed by Gabriel Attal, a candidate for the 2027 presidential election, and has since been discussed by local officials.

Previous attempt in New Caledonia

In May 2024, during riots in New Caledonia, then Prime Minister Gabriel Attal ordered the blocking of TikTok for about two weeks. This decision was later annulled by the Council of State in April 2025, which ruled it illegal because it did not meet strict legal conditions for such a measure.

Legal conditions for a cutoff

According to the Council of State, a social media cutoff can be legal only under exceptional circumstances. It must be necessary to address events of particular gravity, there must be no less intrusive alternatives available, and the cutoff should be temporary, lasting only until a less restrictive solution is implemented.

Impact on users

A social media cutoff affects all users in a targeted area, regardless of their involvement in the violence. This includes those who may be using the platform for political expression or to document events, as noted by Public Sénat. Laurent Nuñez acknowledged these concerns while emphasizing the need for strict legal conditions.

Nuñez’s statements to senators

During a Senate session, Laurent Nuñez emphasized that while social media has become a significant problem, especially in organizing offenses, the government is considering stricter measures. He mentioned discussions with mayors about the possibility of suspending network use during major looting events, while respecting the legal requirements set by the Council of State.