Will social networks have to moderate “calls for revolt” in France? Thierry Breton confirms

In an interview given to France InfoEuropean Commissioner Thierry Breton confirmed that social networks will have to be reactive and delete all disturbing content relating to “ the call to revolt “.

The latest riots in France have reverberated on the internet. President Emmanuel Macron had thus proposed to cut off social networks during these violent episodes, a desire which was then confirmed. On the European side, it seems that the authorities are in line with this idea, and even prepared to put pressure on social networks.

Networks will need to be responsive

When Thierry Breton takes the floor to talk about social networks, it is generally to call for more firmness and control. The remarks he has just made today on the question, after the trying week of riots experienced by France, are in this context nothing very surprising. He explained that with the implementation of the Digital Services Act on August 25, social networks will be required to act immediately to remove content considered malicious.

” When there is hateful content, content which calls for example to revolt, which also calls for killing or burning cars, they will have the obligation in the moment to erase them. If they don’t, they will be immediately sanctioned. » he thus explained. And beware of the recalcitrant who will not obey immediately.

The threat is real

Because fines are obviously provided for, but, more seriously still, it could also be simply decided to prohibit the operation of these platforms on the territory of the European Union. A Facebook or a Twitter could thus become inaccessible to all Internet users who do not have a VPN that can identify them outside the Old Continent.

In the same interview, the European Commissioner recalls certain novelties in the legislation, such as the ban on ” algorithms that push, as we know, these highly viral content “, namely violent images. He also explained that he met with the leaders of Meta and was able to observe the establishment of teams of human moderators who will be responsible for removing unwanted content in the future.

Source : France Info