The idea makes Internet users shudder. Elected officials want to “automatically” lift anonymity on social networks and push platforms to “immediately” remove content reported as cyberharassment when the victim is a minor. In any case, this is the proposal from the Higher Digital and Postal Commission (CSNP), made up of parliamentarians.
In an opinion presented on Wednesday, the CSNP proposes a series of new obligations for social platforms, adopted by the majority of its members. It thus wishes to oblige platforms to “immediately suspend and remove any hateful content”, as soon as it is reported by a minor, their legal representative or an association. It also proposes requiring platforms to communicate the IP address and “identity of the author of the messages” to the person who made the report.
More moderation and a CB imprint
Finally, the CSNP calls for a strengthening of French-language moderation teams, the establishment of a single state system to report illegal content and the use of the blue card imprint to verify age. and the identity of Internet users. The bill to secure the digital space is currently being examined in committee at the National Assembly.
Discussed in a session at the beginning of October, the text already contains several provisions to protect minors, such as the digital “banning” of convicted cyberstalkers or the administrative blocking of pornographic sites which do not verify the age of their visitors. Numerous amendments have also been tabled to facilitate online identity checks.
Proof of identity
Hearing on Tuesday, the Minister Delegate for Digital, Jean-Noël Barrot, accepted the idea that social networks be encouraged to offer “in the future” to their users to provide proof of identity, so that they can choose to only communicate with other certified users.
But, “at this stage, the government cannot give a favorable opinion on such provisions in French law for reasons of unconstitutionality under European law,” he declared. An amendment aimed at banning VPNs – a technical means of concealing the origin of your connection – from posting on social networks – was also withdrawn by the majority.