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France reportedly wanted to block social media during the protests

Gabriel Dumitrache

27 October 2026, 14:58

International

Foto: Shutterstock

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The French government considered blocking social networks and restricting mobile internet in certain areas of the country ahead of the protests on October 24. The measure was intended to prevent demonstrators from coordinating, according to sources cited by POLITICO and Mediafax.

The French Interior Ministry allegedly discussed with telecommunications operators the technical means of limiting access to social networks and mobile internet. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu allegedly sent the operators a letter asking them to be prepared for a possible platform shutdown. The information was initially revealed by the French publication Blast.

Officials from the prime minister’s office and two ministries denied neither the existence of the letter nor the consideration of the measure. The initiative emerged after the protests on October 17, which escalated, and the authorities feared that the violence would be repeated or worsen.

The demonstrations on October 24 were, however, less intense. Approximately 410,000 people protested nationwide, nearly 1,000 were arrested, and 70,000 members of the security forces were deployed. Critics of the measure warned that the restrictions would also have affected peaceful protesters’ communication.

Context: France discussed protest-related bans and restrictions before October 24, while the EU monitored online risks

In the days preceding the protests, President Emmanuel Macron announced that protests deemed “illegitimate” would be banned in the following days, after riots and looting in several cities. Authorities banned demonstrations planned in Paris, Lyon, Lille, and Grenoble and prepared a security operation, imposing nighttime movement restrictions in some areas.

Separately, the EU initiated investigations into possible foreign online interference and disinformation campaigns that may have amplified violent content during the unrest in France and other European states; the inquiries also examined possible operations attributed to Iran and Algeria, although there was no concrete evidence that Russian agents had directly incited the violence.

In France, the Constitutional Council also blocked a plan promoted by Macron to ban access to social networks for children under 15, citing the disproportionate infringement on freedom of expression and difficulties related to age verification, and Macron called for the legislation to be revised.