French Prime Minister prepares social media blackout plan during protests

Massive protests across France coincided with revelations that Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu had prepared a contingency plan to shut down 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).

The government directive requested that these companies be prepared to block access to TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and X. According to the investigative media outlet Blast, which leaked the document and minutes from a subsequent meeting, operators expressed significant concerns regarding the request. Prime Minister Lecornu justified the measure by claiming that these platforms were being used to coordinate civil unrest and disseminate illegal messaging during the October 24 demonstrations.

This development comes amidst a period of widespread social instability in France. While the government had reportedly utilized similar measures in the past, the current move has sparked intense debate regarding civil liberties and the state's authority to restrict digital communication channels during periods of public unrest.