France’s Macron faces backlash after calls to ‘cut off’ social media
Al Arabiya EnglishJul 05, 2023
The Facts
During a meeting with mayors representing areas affected by ongoing riots, French Pres. Emmanuel Macron said that the government should consider regulating or shutting down access to social media sites, as unrest over the shooting of a 17-year-old continues.
Macron has publicly blamed social media websites for inflaming the unrest in France, as he told the mayors that social media has changed "the way young people relate to reality."
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
Macron has reduced himself to despotic tactics by attacking free expression on the internet. The tactic of social media censorship to quell unrest is a tactic of dictators, not leaders in free countries. What is driving the protests against the killing of Nahel Merzouk is anger against racism and discrimination in French society, not cell phones, which Macron is steadfastly refusing to recognize.
Pro-establishment narrative
Any potential restrictions on social media are for the sake of public safety, not censorship. Violent rioters are organizing through social media platforms. Videos of their crimes go viral and spur more violence, as social media sites abdicate responsibility for the real-world repercussions of their platform. This inaction is leading to unnecessary violence and destruction in France.