EU lawmakers urge Commission to investigate social media’s role in protest violence in France

More than 30 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have urged European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen to investigate the possible role of major online platforms in recent protest-related violence across the EU.

In a letter dated 23 October, initiated by French MEP Stéphanie Yon-Courtin, lawmakers raised concerns about online calls to gather, livestreamed incidents and the circulation of images through recommendation algorithms. They outlined three priorities for the Commission, focusing on establishing the facts, improving crisis preparedness and protecting minors.

The first priority is to establish how protest-related content spread online and whether platforms generated advertising revenue from it. The MEPs called on the Commission to use its investigative powers under the Digital Services Act (DSA) to request information from Very Large Online Platforms. They specifically seek data on the reach of illegal riot-related content, algorithmic amplification, content removal times, notifications to law enforcement authorities and any advertising revenue generated.

The second priority concerns the EU’s ability to respond to rapidly developing crises. The lawmakers questioned whether the crisis response mechanism under Article 36(2) of the DSA can provide an effective response to events unfolding within hours. They noted that the mechanism has not yet been activated and called on the Commission to clarify what circumstances could justify its use, including whether it could be triggered within 48 hours.

The letter also proposes extending a crisis protocol being developed under the European Democracy Shield to domestic public-order situations. Suggested measures include temporarily suspending algorithmic recommendations of illegal riot-related content, livestreaming and real-time location features in affected areas, and demonetising such material.

The MEPs stressed that restricting access to an entire service should remain a last resort, subject to strict legal safeguards, including freedom of expression and judicial authorisation.

The third priority is the protection of minors. The lawmakers asked the Commission to consider whether guidance under Article 28 of the DSA should introduce additional safeguards for minors’ accounts during crisis situations. They pointed to reports that minors were strongly represented among those arrested during the protests.

Why does it matter?

The letter puts further attention on how the DSA’s enforcement and crisis response provisions apply during public-order incidents. In particular, the Commission may be asked to clarify the scope of Article 36(2) and the circumstances in which its crisis response mechanism can be activated.

Such clarification could help establish how the EU framework applies to fast-moving domestic crises and provide greater legal certainty for future cases. At the same time, the proposed restrictions raise questions about how to address the spread of illegal content while protecting freedom of expression and ensuring that measures remain proportionate.