A law of 2020, which imposes correct verification of the age of Internet users visiting X sites, is being considered against Twitter to force it to do the same. Otherwise, the social network could be the target of a blocking measure.
Could a social network like Twitter be blocked in France, based on a recent law aimed at limiting the exposure of minors to pornography? In any case, this is the trajectory that two associations are considering, in a column signed on May 2, 2022 in the Journal du Dimanche. They believe that the social network “ violates applicable laws “.
The two associations (COFRADE — French Council of Associations for Children’s Rights — and OPEN — Observatory of Parenthood & Digital Education) observe that the community site is populated with X content, while the platform American is also frequented by many minors.
” With a few clicks on Twitter, children can be exposed to pornographic, sometimes zoophilic, and even rape videos », OPEN alert in a thread on Twitter, May 3. However, in France, since 2020 there has been a law imposing effective control of the age of Internet users, when a site disseminates pornographic content.
A law concerning X sites considered against a social network
This regime primarily targets pornographic sites, because they are the ones that mainly display these media (photos, videos, texts, games, etc.). The fact is that these spaces generally use a simple cover page, superimposed on the site, in which Internet users are asked to declare on their honor that they are of legal age by clicking on the button to enter.
It is precisely this new framework that today allows an offensive against several large X sites (PornHub, PornHub, xHamster, Xnxx and XVideos, RedTube and YouPorn), some of which are already at the legal stage: actions are in progress before the courts, the outcome of which could result in a blockage at the level of Internet service providers.
Unlike a site for adults, which in principle is only intended for adults, because pornographic content is prohibited for children under pain of very heavy legal penalties, a platform like Twitter is open to minors. In principle, Twitter only allows children between the ages of 13 and 17, but there may be younger ones who are free-riding.
However, it is this hybrid state that is turning against Twitter today, since the site, while accepting children from the age of 13, also accepts, under conditions, pornographic media. This allows, in particular, sex workers to have visibility to exercise, and also illustrates, in passing, the difficulty of finding a balance.
” Twitter’s terms of use, in particular, are surprising and even in total contravention of the child protection laws in force in France. “, judge the two associations. As for the checks, they are considered ineffective. A minor can disregard the warning presented by the site, without any control of its age “, they add.
So this is the context in which the two associations fit to obtain the suspension of Twitter, since there is no age control while the service makes room for both minors and pornography. Admittedly, the two associations only speak in their forums of a ” temporary suspension from Twitter. But that’s an understatement to talk about blockage.
On Twitter, they write: that it is blatant that Twitter does not respect the legislation, and that it exposes itself to a potential suspension of its services in France if its conditions of use were brought to the attention of Arcom », which is the authority in charge of ensuring compliance with the law of 2020. It is she who is in charge in the case of X sites targeted by the courts.
It remains to be seen what will be next. On Twitter, the two associations challenged Arcom, no doubt to encourage it to take up the subject. They might as well seize the authority in due form. However, the verdict before the courts is not guaranteed, given the gap between the problem observed and the means envisaged to put an end to it.