The Senate proposes to censor social networks in 2 hours in the event of violent demonstrations

After several nights of violence following the death of Nahel, the government is sinking even deeper into the accusation of the networks with a new amendment tabled by Senator Patrick Chaize (LR). The latter asks that the authorities be able to censor accounts that relay information on the demonstrations in just 2 hours.

The reactions were not long in coming when Emmanuel Macron pointed the finger at social networks and video games to explain the violent clashes in progress between young people and the police, following the death of Nahel, a 17-year-old teenager. killed by a policeman. Despite strong opposition, the government seems convinced of its theory.

A new amendment, shared by journalist Laura Kayali on her Twitter account, is in line with this rhetoric. Tabled by Senator Patrick Chaize (LR), the amendment requests power “remove or block access to content, within two hours […], manifestly inciting riots, violence against persons in public authority, damage to or intrusion into public buildings or facilities. »

On the same subject — Social networks: teenagers under 15 will have to obtain the agreement of their parents to create an account

Towards censorship of social networks during demonstrations?

This amendment follows the highly publicized censorship of the Twitter account Cerfia, which has shared numerous videos of the clashes since the death of Nahel, who was summoned by the Ministry of the Interior to “calm things down a bit” in order to “to calm the situation” according to Pierre Delcombel, co-founder of the account. This time, Patrick Chaize provides for a heavy sentence in the event of refusal of the targeted accounts: one year’s imprisonment and a €250,000 fine.

“Faced with the passivity of social networks, a firmer response is necessary”justifies Senator LR, who points to what he considers to be “amplifying effects” various images and information shared by Internet users. This is not the first time that such a proposal has been made before Parliament. A few years ago, the Avia law had already tried to impose censorship of social networks within 24 hours. The Constitutional Council, however, refused to follow up.