France's government sought to block social media during protests, citing coordination of violence, but telecoms resisted due to legal and technical challenges.
French government seeks social media block
The French government, led by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, reportedly asked telecom companies to block access to social media apps like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat during planned demonstrations on October 24, according to a letter obtained by the media outlet Blast. The request was made in case of urban violence, with the government citing the role of these platforms in coordinating protests and spreading illegal slogans.Preventive measures failed to stop protests
The government had taken several steps to prevent the demonstrations, including banning gatherings, restricting movement in certain areas, altering protest routes, and increasing police presence. Despite these actions, the demonstrations went ahead as scheduled, leading to the consideration of more extreme measures like social media restrictions.Previous attempts at social media restrictions
Lecornu’s proposal was not the first of its kind in France. In 2024, TikTok was temporarily blocked in New Caledonia due to concerns about communication between protesters and potential external interference. However, in 2025, the Council of State, France’s highest administrative court, advised against such measures, calling them excessive and legally questionable.Telecom companies raise legal and technical concerns
The telecom operators involved in the discussion were reportedly skeptical of the government’s request. A long meeting was held between government officials and the companies, during which the operators expressed concerns about the legal risks and technical challenges of implementing a partial social media block. They highlighted the difficulty of restricting access to specific apps in certain areas and the possibility of users bypassing the restrictions using tools like virtual private networks.
