French officials turn their attention to social media as unrest spreads

French officials are increasingly concerned about the role social media plays in drawing people into nationwide unrest and encouraging violent behavior, according to The New York Times. The concern comes as protests over living costs and education enter their third consecutive weekend.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said authorities were seeing numerous calls to gather from the far left, from what he described as radicalized extreme-left groups, and from certain radicalized yellow vests websites. The calls urged rallies starting at 8 p.m. in many cities across France. Nuñez said some of the messages were violent, calling for "revolution" and "insurrection."

He said planned evening gatherings would be forbidden, and that anyone who tried to gather despite the ban would be arrested. He also warned that hiding one's face during a demonstration that disrupted public order is a criminal offense. Demonstrators had been encouraged online to turn up in Halloween costumes, and French authorities cited calls on social media for people to revolt that encouraged wearing masks and costumes. Officials warned that the risk of a new outbreak of violence around Halloween was high.

Reports also circulated that the government had considered temporarily suspending several popular sites. President Emmanuel Macron denied the speculation. In remarks on the protests, he said, "Social media is damaging our democracies," according to Deutsche Welle.

The social media debate follows a broader tightening of rules. On Oct. 22, 2026, Macron announced stricter curbs on protests, including restrictions on social media access for people involved in violence, looting or attacks on police, as Reuters reported. In that announcement he placed blame on the hard left for the unrest.

Hundreds of thousands of people joined protests across France on Saturday, Oct. 31. Scuffles broke out in Paris and other cities that evening. At the end of the Paris march, riot police charged to disperse small groups of rioters, and in Lyon, police fired tear gas during the protests, Reuters reported.