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Esra Taskin and Gizem Nisa Demir
25 October 2026•Update : 25 October 2026
France has reportedly asked telecom operators to be prepared to suspend access to social media platforms in the event of potential violence during protests this weekend, according to media reports.
French online outlet Blast said that Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu sent a letter Thursday to representatives of Orange, SFR, Free and Bouygues Telecom ahead of Saturday’s Yellow Vests protests.
The letter reportedly asked the operators to be ready to temporarily block access to social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and X, in the event of violence during the demonstrations.
Members of Lecornu’s Cabinet and the operators’ legal directors also met online in the runup to the weekend protests.
According to the meeting minutes, the government wanted any restrictions on access to the platforms to be limited to cellphones and specific areas.
The operators expressed reservations about the government’s request and said they lacked the capacity to implement the measures in the short term.
The government has not yet responded to Blast’s report.
In 2024, the French government blocked access to TikTok during protests in New Caledonia. In 2025, France’s Council of State overturned the government’s decision to restrict access to the platform in the territory.
The Yellow Vests movement returned to the streets on Saturday to protest the rising cost of living. Approximately 1,000 people have been detained in the demonstrations.
