French officials held emergency meetings with major tech platforms like TikTok and eBay this week, demanding stricter content moderation and a crackdown on the resale of stolen goods amid widespread riots.
Social media platforms were specifically targeted by digital affairs minister Anne Le Hananff after being accused of amplifying the unrest, which has been described as the worst civil disturbances in France in years. The government stressed the need for platforms to moderate violent content and anything that could encourage curfew violations.
A WIRED review of TikTok revealed that searches for terms like "blocus" (blockade) displayed potentially AI-generated or altered videos, some even promoting future protest actions. TikTok has since applied an "evolving situation" tag to such searches, warning users that information may be unverified.
In parallel, a separate meeting on Monday involved major online resale platforms, including Vinted, Amazon, and eBay, who reportedly agreed to a pact to combat the sale of looted items. These platforms committed to flagging suspicious ads to investigators, monitoring for goods stolen during the protests, and providing the government with action reports.
The riots, which erupted over living costs and public service strains, saw over 1,500 shops looted, leading to thousands of arrests. French law carries severe penalties for possessing or reselling stolen goods, with potential jail time and hefty fines.
Industry groups, like the French Alliance of Marketplaces, have stated their members are employing user reports, human review, and technology to identify and remove ads featuring stolen items, with actions ranging from ad removal to account suspension.
