Social networks have been an integral part of our lives for several years now. One of the most popular and oldest may soon disappear in France.
The threat of banishment had been hanging over his face for several years already. The social network X (formerly Twitter), which is very regularly the subject of criticism and complaints, could soon no longer be accessible in France. Bought by Elon Musk in October 2022 for $44 billion, the application has changed its face for several months now, to the great dismay of its users.
Since the buyout by the richest man in the world, X has become the center of all criticism. Absolute freedom of expression, extreme toxicity, misinformation galore, promotion of anti-Semitism and racism, questionable moderation… the social network has lost its splendor. The hatred that grew towards it led its users to switch to Bluesky, a new, safer and less violent competitor.
At the microphone of France Inter on Wednesday January 8, the new Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, spoke of the banning of X in France. Ban X in France, “it is provided for in our laws”he said. A threat which responds to the numerous interferences of Elon Musk vis-à-vis Europe on its application.
Elon Musk notably used X to castigate British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, calling him a “totally despicable”but also to support the AfD, the German far-right party, in the context of new legislative elections.
Faced with this interference, France has called for stricter compliance with the regulation of digital services against disinformation: “I have called on the European Commission several times to take much more vigorous ownership of these tools, which we have democratically given it, to deter this behavior”specifies Jean-Noël Barrot.
In order to protect the democracy of X’s absolute freedom of expression, Jean-Noël Barrot called on Europe to be responsible. “We need to wake up”he assures. “There is no question of public debate being relocated in a completely deregulated manner to large social media platforms owned by American billionaires”. A phenomenon that could not be more current, which could soon disappear in France.