CAGE OF CONTROL
Controlling the Narrative

France

Administrative blocking, a regulator that delists and switches off, a platform founder under investigation, and a state that pays the press.

Introduction

France goes further than any other country in this series in openly managing the information space. Its regulator, Arcom, can order websites blocked and removed from search results. A police platform, Pharos, processes more than 200,000 reports a year and pushes platforms to remove content. The Prime Minister switched off TikTok in an overseas territory. French authorities send Meta more emergency data requests than anyone else in this series. And the state pays hundreds of millions of euros to newspapers, funds public broadcasting by annual vote, and has shown, with the channel C8, that a broadcaster can lose its frequency. In my view, France is a state that believes it has a role in shaping public information, and it acts on that belief.

Control of Expression, Speech & Information

1. Internet searches: how the government controls them

Administrative blocking and delisting. France allows content to be blocked and removed from search results without a judge, on administrative order, for child sexual abuse material and terrorist content. A "qualified person" at Arcom reviews these police orders. In 2024 that office reviewed 87,054 removal requests, 12,624 blocking requests and 23 delisting requests.[1] I don't defend the material being targeted. But the legal machinery for blocking and delisting without a judge now exists, and mission creep is how such machinery usually grows.

Age verification as a blocking trigger. Under the 2024 SREN law, Arcom can order pornographic sites that fail its age-verification standard to be blocked and delisted. Its technical standard requires a "double anonymity" option and at least two methods of proving age.[2] Rather than comply, Aylo suspended Pornhub, YouPorn and RedTube in France in June 2025.[3][4] A regulator's technical standard effectively took some of the most popular adult sites in the country offline.

The right to be forgotten, and its limits. France's data regulator, the CNIL, took the right to be delisted to the EU Court of Justice. In Google v CNIL (2019), the court ruled that EU law requires delisting across all EU versions of a search engine, not worldwide, with measures to discourage EU users from finding the results.[5] The CNIL had wanted it global. That a French regulator sought to censor search results for the whole planet says a great deal.

EU obligations. Google Search and Bing are designated "very large online search engines" under the Digital Services Act, with annual systemic-risk assessments, audits and mitigation duties.[6] Arcom is France's Digital Services Coordinator under the SREN law.[7]

Government removal requests. In January–June 2025, French authorities sent Google 575 removal requests covering 8,096 items, 484 of them aimed at Web Search. National security was cited 94 times, hate speech 33 times. The "information and communications authority" category, which includes the media regulator, made 178 requests.[8]

2. Social media searches and removals

Pharos. The Interior Ministry's Pharos platform received 111,252 reports in the first half of 2024 and 110,842 in the second.[9] In the second half alone, operators asked for the removal or reduced visibility of 53,930 items of child sexual abuse content and 4,392 terrorist items, and 1,044 other items, "notably discriminatory content," were notified to hosts for removal.[9] Discrimination accounted for 18,744 reports in the first half and 17,185 in the second.[9]

Laws on "false information" and hate. A 2018 law lets a judge order the rapid removal of false information likely to distort an election. The Constitutional Council upheld it only with limits: the falsity must be obvious and the risk to the vote evident.[10] In 2020 the Avia law tried to force platforms to remove hateful content within 24 hours. The Constitutional Council struck down its core as a disproportionate restriction on freedom of expression.[11] That was a welcome check, and it shows the instinct of the political class.

Viginum. Since 2021 a government agency, Viginum, attached to the defence secretariat, has tracked foreign "digital interference."[12] Foreign interference is real. But an agency that judges which online campaigns are "inauthentic" sits very close to judging which narratives are acceptable.

Platform executives. In August 2024 Paris prosecutors placed Telegram founder Pavel Durov under formal investigation on charges including complicity in distributing illegal content and refusing to cooperate with authorities.[13][14] Whatever the merits, arresting a platform founder on arrival sent a message to every tech executive.

What platforms report. Meta restricted access to 663 items in France based on local law in July–December 2025.[15]

3. Social media access and ID

A shutdown. On 14 May 2024, during riots in New Caledonia, the Prime Minister ordered TikTok blocked in the territory. On 1 April 2025 the Conseil d'État ruled the decision unlawful: exceptional circumstances can justify temporarily cutting off a network, but a total block of indefinite length, imposed without considering alternatives, was a disproportionate attack on freedom of expression.[16][17] The court left the door open, under conditions.

Age limits. France has passed two laws on children's social media use, and neither is in force. A 2023 law on "digital majority" required parental consent for under-15s, but it has not been applied for lack of an implementing decree.[18] In July 2026 Parliament adopted a ban on social media for children under 15.[19] On 14 August 2026 the Constitutional Council struck down that blanket ban as a disproportionate restriction on freedom of expression, citing the lack of guarantees on age verification.[20] The government is pursuing a revised version.[19]

The rhetoric. Speaking in New Delhi in February 2026, President Macron said: "Free speech is pure bullshit if nobody knows how you are guided through this."[21] His target was opaque algorithms, not free speech as such. But when the head of state talks this way, I think the words matter.

4. Social media warrants, known or unknown to the user

Intelligence surveillance. The oversight body for intelligence techniques, the CNCTR, estimated that 24,308 people were under surveillance in 2024, and it examined 98,883 requests to use intelligence techniques domestically, up 3%.[22] These are authorised by the Prime Minister after the CNCTR's opinion, not by a judge, and the people concerned are not told. [Needs source: the statutory authorisation and complaint procedure under the Code de la sécurité intérieure.]

Encryption. In March 2025, during the debate on the narcotrafficking bill, the National Assembly rejected amendments that would have let intelligence services access content from encrypted messaging apps within authorised interceptions. The vote was 119 to 24.[23][24] Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau had wanted that access, and it was defeated, for now.[25]

What platforms report. In July–December 2025, Meta received 19,311 French requests for user data, covering 22,503 accounts, and produced some data in 83.98% of cases. Strikingly, 12,028 of those were emergency disclosure requests and only 7,283 were legal process.[26] France was the only country in this series where emergency requests to Meta outnumbered formal legal process. Google received 9,803 legal requests (81% disclosed, 19,849 accounts) and 196 emergency requests.[27] Emergency requests usually skip a court order. I'd like to know why France needs so many.

5. Government-controlled media: print

France has one of the most extensive press subsidy systems in Europe. In 2024 the Ministry of Culture paid €175.2 million in direct aid to the press, and estimates a further €300 million in indirect aid through a 2.1% VAT rate and discounted postage, across 527 titles.[28] The ministry says the aid rests on "objective and transparent" criteria and publishes tables of who gets what.[28]

I'll give credit for the transparency. But a press that receives cheques from the Ministry of Culture has a stake in the ministry's goodwill. Eligibility rules can change, and every editor knows it. [Needs source: French government advertising spend in print.]

6. Government-controlled media: television and radio

Funding. After France abolished its TV licence in 2022, public broadcasting has been funded with a share of VAT receipts, voted each year by Parliament.[29] France Télévisions received about €2.54 billion in public funding in 2024, and public money makes up 86% of its resources.[30][29] An annual vote makes the broadcaster more dependent on politicians, not less.

Appointments. Since a 2013 law, Arcom appoints the heads of France Télévisions and Radio France for five-year terms, after applications and hearings.[31] In 2025 it reappointed Delphine Ernotte Cunci at France Télévisions, for a term starting 22 August 2025.[32] Arcom's own members are appointed by political authorities. [Needs source: composition and appointment of Arcom's board.]

Licensing. Arcom allocates digital terrestrial frequencies. In February 2024 the Conseil d'État ruled that Arcom must assess pluralism and independence across a channel's programming as a whole, rather than looking only at the speaking time given to politicians.[33] In the next licensing round Arcom declined to renew C8, whose flagship show had drawn repeated sanctions. On 19 February 2025 the Conseil d'État upheld that decision, citing the channel's repeated breaches along with its finances.[34] C8 went off the terrestrial air. I'm not defending everything C8 broadcast. My point is the precedent: a regulator can now judge a channel's overall editorial balance, and a channel can lose its frequency partly because of what its presenters said.

Radio. Radio France received €657.1 million in public funding in 2024.[35] The state also funds local community radio through the FSER fund, €35.7 million in 2024.[36] Arcom allocates radio frequencies too, and the same pluralism logic can apply.

My view

France doesn't hide its role. It blocks and delists without a judge, pushes platforms through a police reporting platform, cut off TikTok in a territory, investigated a platform founder, and sends Meta emergency data requests at a rate no other country here comes close to. It funds newspapers, votes the budgets of its broadcasters, appoints their heads through a regulator, and has shown with C8 that it can switch a channel off. Defenders call that protecting democracy. I see a state that has made itself indispensable to the information business, and that keeps testing how far its hand can reach.

Sources

  1. Arcom, Rapport d'activité 2024 de la personnalité qualifiée — https://www.arcom.fr/sites/default/files/2025-05/Arcom-rapport-2024-personnalite-qualifiee_0.pdf
  2. Arcom, Référentiel technique sur la vérification de l'âge (Oct 2024) — https://www.arcom.fr/sites/default/files/2024-10/Arcom-Referentiel-technique-sur-la-verification-de-age-pour-la-protection-des-mineurs-contre-la-pornographie-en-ligne.pdf
  3. Reuters, "Owner suspends Pornhub, YouPorn, RedTube in France from Wednesday" (3 Jun 2025) — https://www.reuters.com/technology/owner-suspends-pornhub-youporn-redtube-france-wednesday-2025-06-03/
  4. Arcom, "L'Arcom prend acte de la décision du groupe Aylo" — https://www.arcom.fr/presse/larcom-prend-acte-de-la-decision-du-groupe-aylo
  5. CJEU, Google v CNIL, C-507/17 (24 Sep 2019) — https://curia.europa.eu/juris/liste.jsf?language=en&;num=C-507%2F17
  6. European Commission, "Digital Services Act: Commission designates first set of Very Large Online Platforms and Search Engines" (25 Apr 2023) — https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_2413
  7. Arcom, on the promulgation of the SREN law — https://www.arcom.fr/en/press/arcom-delighted-promulgation-law-aimed-securing-and-regulating-digital-space-which-designates-it-coordinator-digital-services-france
  8. Google Transparency Report, Government requests to remove content (data download, Jan–Jun 2025) — https://transparencyreport.google.com/government-removals/overview
  9. Ministère de l'Intérieur, "Bilan d'activité de Pharos en 2024" — https://www.masecurite.interieur.gouv.fr/fr/fiches-pratiques/bilan-activite-pharos-2024
  10. Conseil constitutionnel, Decision no. 2018-773 DC — https://www.conseil-constitutionnel.fr/en/decision/2018/2018773DC.htm
  11. Wisconsin International Law Journal, "The NetzDG and the Avia Law" — https://wilj.law.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1270/2023/08/491-518-Lewis_Proof_Final.pdf
  12. Vie-publique.fr, Conseil des ministres 13 July 2021: service de lutte contre les ingérences numériques — https://www.vie-publique.fr/discours/280734-conseil-des-ministres-13072021-service-lutte-ingerences-numeriques
  13. Tribunal judiciaire de Paris, press release (28 Aug 2024) — https://www.tribunal-de-paris.justice.fr/sites/default/files/2024-08/2024-08-28%20-%20CP%20TELEGRAM%20mise%20en%20examen.pdf
  14. Reuters, "French authorities charge Telegram's Durov in probe into organized crime on app" — https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/french-judges-decide-next-step-durov-probe-2024-08-28/
  15. Meta Transparency Center, Content restrictions based on local law: France (Jul–Dec 2025 data file) — https://transparency.meta.com/reports/content-restrictions/country/FR/
  16. Conseil d'État, "En cas de circonstances exceptionnelles, le Gouvernement peut interrompre provisoirement l'accès à un réseau social, mais sous conditions" — https://www.conseil-etat.fr/actualites/en-cas-de-circonstances-exceptionnelles-le-gouvernement-peut-interrompre-provisoirement-l-acces-a-un-reseau-social-mais-sous-conditions
  17. Conseil d'État, Décision n° 494511 (1 Apr 2025) — https://www.conseil-etat.fr/fr/arianeweb/CE/decision/2025-04-01/494511
  18. Sénat, Contrôle de l'application de la loi visant à instaurer une majorité numérique — https://www.senat.fr/application-des-lois/ppl22-389.html
  19. Reuters, "French parliament backs social media ban for children under 15" (21 Jul 2026) — https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/french-lawmakers-vote-social-media-ban-children-2026-07-21/
  20. Conseil constitutionnel, Décision n° 2026-911 DC du 14 août 2026 — https://www.conseil-constitutionnel.fr/actualites/communique/decision-n-2026-911-dc-du-14-aout-2026-communique-de-presse
  21. POLITICO Europe, "'Pure bullshit': Macron slams tech giants' claim they are defending free speech" (18 Feb 2026) — https://www.politico.eu/article/emmanuelmacron-calls-social-medias-free-speech-defense-pure-bullshit/
  22. CNCTR, 9th Activity Report 2024 — https://cms.cnctr.fr/uploads/RAPPORT_CNCTR_2024_ANGLAIS_v04_NUMERIQUE_7ff7890948.pdf
  23. Assemblée nationale, Analyse du scrutin n°1102 (20 Mar 2025) — https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/17/scrutins/1102
  24. franceinfo, "Narcotrafic : les députés rejettent la création d'une 'porte dérobée' dans les messageries chiffrées" — https://www.franceinfo.fr/societe/drogue/narcotrafic-les-deputes-rejettent-la-creation-d-une-porte-derobee-dans-les-messageries-cryptees-mais-adoptent-plusieurs-mesures-controversees_7143492.html
  25. RTL, "Loi narcotrafic : les députés écartent définitivement l'accès aux messageries chiffrées souhaité par Bruno Retailleau" — https://www.rtl.fr/actu/sciences-tech/loi-narcotrafic-les-deputes-ecartent-definitivement-l-acces-aux-messageries-chiffrees-souhaite-par-bruno-retailleau-7900485726
  26. Meta Transparency Center, Government requests for user data: France (Jul–Dec 2025) — https://transparency.meta.com/reports/government-data-requests/country/FR/
  27. Google Transparency Report, Global requests for user information (data download, period ending 31 Dec 2025) — https://transparencyreport.google.com/user-data/overview
  28. Ministère de la Culture, "Tableaux des titres de presse aidés" — https://www.culture.gouv.fr/thematiques/presse-ecrite/tableaux-des-titres-de-presse-aides3
  29. France Télévisions, "Nos financements" — https://www.francetelevisions.fr/groupe/qui-sommes-nous/transparence/nos-financements-52001
  30. Budget.gouv.fr, Rapport annuel de performances 2024 (France Télévisions) — https://www.budget.gouv.fr/documentation/file-download/30095
  31. Arcom, "Présidence de France Télévisions : procédure de nomination" — https://www.arcom.fr/presse/presidence-de-france-televisions-procedure-de-nomination
  32. Arcom, "L'Arcom nomme Mme Delphine Ernotte Cunci à la présidence de France Télévisions" — https://www.arcom.fr/presse/larcom-nomme-mme-delphine-ernotte-cunci-la-presidence-de-france-televisions
  33. IRIS Merlin (European Audiovisual Observatory), Conseil d'État on Arcom and pluralism (Feb 2024) — https://merlin.obs.coe.int/article/9993
  34. Conseil d'État, "DTT frequencies: Arcom must assess the appropriateness of a new call for applications for the four frequencies now vacant" (19 Feb 2025) — https://www.conseil-etat.fr/en/news/dtt-frequencies-arcom-must-assess-the-appropriateness-of-a-new-call-for-applications-for-the-four-frequencies-now-vacant
  35. Budget.gouv.fr, Rapport annuel de performances 2024 (Radio France) — https://www.budget.gouv.fr/documentation/file-download/30101
  36. Assemblée nationale, budget report "Médias, livre et industries culturelles" (FSER) — https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/contenu/visualisation/705241/file/M%C3%A9dias,%20livre%20et%20industries%20culturelles.pdf

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