Le Monde Criticizes Macron's Government for Blocking TikTok in New Caledonia

After two weeks of riots in New Caledonia, a territory located in the Pacific Ocean, the French government has decided to lift the state of emergency in this overseas territory starting Tuesday. However, as the situation calms down, criticisms of the French government regarding its management of the riots and urban protests have increased. Following the blocking of the TikTok social media platform in New Caledonia, Le Monde, the leading French newspaper, criticized this action and described it as mimicking the behavior of countries like Iran. In an editorial about the blocking of TikTok, Le Monde wrote that whatever the potential impact of this social media platform on public order in the archipelago, Macron's government's action to block it seems disproportionate. While TikTok is owned by a Chinese company, Le Monde noted that the accusation of foreign powers' interference in the recent protests in New Caledonia has not yet been proven. The newspaper emphasized that such a decision places France alongside countries that pay little attention to freedom of expression and human rights. Le Monde wrote that this 'radical and unprecedented' decision by French officials has exposed them to severe criticism. The newspaper added that France has taken cues from countries that do not prioritize freedom of expression, including on the internet, and human rights in general, such as China, Iran, and Turkey. This comes at a time when the French Foreign Ministry had previously criticized such actions by these countries. Le Monde stated: 'In blocking TikTok, France has placed itself alongside Afghanistan, India, and Somalia.' This warning from Le Monde coincides with a warning from Reporters Without Borders, an independent NGO based in Paris, regarding the increasing limitations on media freedom in France. This organization ranks France 21st in the world in terms of media freedom and has noted that in recent years, especially during public protests against government policies, there has been a growing distrust of journalists. Regarding social media, last July, when urban unrest occurred in France, Macron stated in a meeting with French mayors: 'We need to think about social media and their prohibition. When the situation gets out of control, it may be necessary to control and cut these networks.' According to the law concerning the state of emergency in France, the Minister of the Interior can take any action to ensure the interruption of public communication services that incite or support terrorist acts. Some legal experts in France argue that blocking social media is a sensitive decision, as the government must be able to justify this action before the court as being proportionate. Previously, a member of parliament from Macron's party had warned on social media that such a decision strengthens the position of those who portray the French government as an opponent of freedom.