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Opinion | How protests in France are fuelling calls for a ban on TikTok and other social media
- A prominent aspect of the French protests is the salience of social media as a way for protesters to grow and learn from each other
- French politicians have laid some of the blame for the violence on social media platforms such as TikTok, which has come in for particular scrutiny
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The killing of Nahel M, a 17-year-old boy of Algerian and Moroccan origin, and the subsequent protests in France have led to thousands being arrested and reportedly cost more than €1 billion (US$1.1 billion) in lost business and property.
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Large-scale protests are nothing new in France, with similar unrest breaking out across the country in 2005 in suburban neighbourhoods with low-cost housing known as banlieues. Many of the inhabitants of these neighbourhoods are people from immigrant backgrounds or a third- or fourth-generation descendants of the same.
France has a long, complicated history with immigration given its colonial past. Previously, people from countries colonised by France – such as Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia – moved to France to fill labour shortages during the 20th century. These people were often looked down upon as the working class, a mindset that continues to this day.
In addition, many of these immigrants and their children were Muslim, potentially bringing them into conflict with the French constitutional principle of laïcité, or secularism. Terrorist attacks carried out by groups such as Islamic State were done by Muslims or people of North African descent, further contributing to an atmosphere of public distrust, which far-right politicians have tried to capitalise.
All these factors have led to a rise in incidents in France of discrimination against Muslims and people of African origin, whether citizens and foreigners. Reports have pointed out a frequent pattern of racist behaviour by the French police, who often racially profile African or Muslim citizens.
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The excessive force used by police during their run-ins with these people has kept tensions with the public at a steady boil. Nahel’s killing during a traffic stop – which was caught on video and even condemned by French President Emmanuel Macron – was the final straw for many, leading to widespread protests that have raged across the country for more than a week.
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