EU Digital Commissioner Thierry Breton, known for his outspokenness, has raised the possibility of shutting down platforms such as Twitter and TikTok across Europe in the event of social unrest if they fail to comply with the rules of the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Breton, the former head of France Telecom, stated that the European Commission could completely block access to social networks such as TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat under the DSA if platform operators do not take action against illegal content during social unrest. He made these remarks during an interview with French news channel France Info on Monday.
“If there are hate-filled content, content that incites rebellion, killing, or setting cars on fire, the platforms are obligated to delete them. If they fail to do so, they will be immediately sanctioned,” Breton said, as reported by “Heise,” citing the broadcaster.
Breton emphasized that they have teams ready to intervene immediately. If those responsible for social media platforms fail to take immediate action, the European Union can not only impose fines but also prohibit the operation of the platforms within the EU, he added during the interview.
Breton’s stance aligns with that of French President Emmanuel Macron. In France, there have been recurring riots and clashes following the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old by a police officer in the Paris region. Macron recently raised the possibility of a potential ban or restrictions on the use of social media networks, stating that “we must consider the use of these networks by young people” and explore the option of bans.
Macron further highlighted the impact of social media on how young people perceive reality, addressing 250 mayors at the Élysée Palace and calling for measures and sanctions against platforms. He suggested that if necessary, access to these networks should be “cut off“.
Shortly after Macron’s remarks, the French government attempted to backtrack following comparisons made by the media between Macron’s statements and state censorship in China and Iran. Criticism also emerged from within Macron’s own party. French Digital Minister Jean-Noël Barrot clarified that the president was merely referring to the technical possibility of restricting access to social media platforms, not indicating plans for access restrictions, as he conveyed to “Politico.”
Access restrictions for online platforms have not been mentioned in the Digital Services Act until now. In cases of threats to public safety or health, the commission can require very large platforms to “limit” urgent threats on their platforms, as stated in the DSA. However, these special measures are limited to three months.
New rules will come into effect at the end of August. Nineteen major online platforms, including TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter, will be required to meet new legal requirements starting from August 25. The aim is to curb the spread of illegal and harmful content. Platforms with over 45 million users in the EU must also submit an initial detailed assessment of their greatest risks to users to the Commission. Failure to meet the requirements could result in fines of up to six percent of their global revenue.
Breton announced that the Commission will conduct a “stress test” on TikTok next week to assess the company’s ability to comply with the new rules. Twitter has already undergone testing, and Meta has agreed to conduct the test later this month.
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