French government planned social media blackout during protests

In late October 2026, the French government faced significant scrutiny following revelations that Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu prepared a plan to block major social media platforms. On October 22, the Prime Minister sent an official letter to the country’s four largest telecommunications providers—Orange, Bouygues Telecom, Iliad (Free), and Altice France (SFR)—instructing them to be prepared to restrict access to TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and X in the event of further civil unrest during the October 24 demonstrations.

According to reports from the French investigative outlet Blast and Politico, which cited government officials and industry workers, the Ministry of the Interior also explored broader measures to limit internet access in specific geographic areas. The government justified the potential intervention by claiming that these platforms were used to coordinate illegal actions and spread violent slogans. Officials from the Prime Minister’s office, along with the Ministry of Technology and the Ministry of the Interior, have not denied the existence of the correspondence. While the proposed blackout was intended to prevent the coordination of protesters, the revelation has sparked serious questions regarding the government's approach to public demonstrations and digital freedoms.