The French government is facing backlash over plans to potentially block social media access during civil unrest. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has instructed major telecom operators—Orange, SFR, Free, and Bouygues Telecom—to prepare the technical capacity to restrict access to platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and X if riots persist. Officials argue that these networks are exploited to organize violent gatherings and track law enforcement movements. While telecom companies have raised technical and legal concerns regarding the implementation, the government maintains its stance. The proposal has ignited a national debate; while former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and Interior Minister Laurent Nunez support the measure as a last-resort security tool backed by the Council of State, critics warn that it threatens freedom of expression and sets a dangerous precedent for government censorship.