French senate introduces bill to prevent ‘violence’ spreading through social platforms

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) – French Senate on Tuesday introduced a bill that says social media companies will have to deliver identity information of platform users and handle removal or blocking requests by the French government in two hours at most in cases of highly sensitive content spreading and encouraging "violence."

With the new bill, Paris will have the power to get the personal data of social platform users "manifestly inciting riots, violence against persons vested with public authority, damage to public buildings or installations or intrusion into them" in times of riots or social movements "that undermine public order or public security."

The bill also forces social media companies to handle content removal or blocking requests sent to them by French authorities "within two hours from the receipt of the said injunction," the Senate stressed in the amendment.

"Failure to comply with the obligation mentioned in this I is punishable by one year's imprisonment and a fine of €250,000 ($272,465)," it noted.

"The terms of application of this article are defined by decree in Council of State," the amendment mentioned.

"The proliferation of messages, images, videos and live rebroadcasts of riots or violent popular movements" need "a firmer response" by the French authorities when it is considered that such actions have "faced with the passivity of social networks."

Calling these actions "unacceptable," the Senate underscored, "This is why the purpose of this amendment is to allow the competent administrative authorities to issue withdrawal injunctions against social networks so that they withdraw or block access, within two hours, to the content manifestly inciting violence, in particular against persons holding public authority."

The bill, which provides for a number of changes such as introducing an age limit for accessing sites where inappropriate content is shared, sharing about victims of domestic violence in public digital resources, and regulations on competition in the cloud computing sector, will be put on the agenda in the Senate on Tuesday.

As part of the bill, the competent authorities will also be able to request the removal of child abuse posts within 24 hours.

To prevent internet fraud, users on websites that are also considered risky will receive a warning message about the security risk in their browsers.

The bill, which also provides for the fight against fake accounts, fake news and pirate sites, was completed on May 10.

Negotiations on the bill in the Senate will continue on July 5, 6 and 7.

Following the protests that erupted on June 27 after the fatal police shooting of 17-year-old Nahel M., French President Emmanuel Macron told a news conference in the capital on June 30 that groups were scheduling and organizing protests via large social platforms.

The government will also take action for removal of the "most sensitive" rioting content, he said and urged parents to act responsibly and prevent their children from joining the riots.

He also called on all parents "act responsibly" and keep their children home, adding that social media networks play an important role in this situation, TikTok and Snapchat in particular.