4. CONTEXT: Escalating lawfare and censorship under Macron’s presidency
France has long presented itself as the cradle of modern democratic ideals, born of the Revolution of 1789 and enshrined in the motto “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.” In reality, few Western governments have more sway on free speech than France.
The French government and its Censorship Industrial Complex have used various methods, including judicial intimidation, to demand censorship from social media platforms.
In August last year, French police arrested Pavel Durov, the founder of the social media company Telegram, and held him for four days. France indicted him on a staggering list of charges, including complicity in organized crime, criminal conspiracy, and facilitating terrorism.
Durov has alleged that the director of France's foreign intelligence service urged him to suppress conservative voices on Telegram in the wake of Romania’s presidential election rerun, which followed its cancellation.
🚨TWITTER FILES – FRANCE At this moment, the Trump administration is negotiating with the EU over final obstacles to a trade deal, one of which is European censorship of US social media platforms. Many analysts believe the massive size of the EU will lead US social media firms- 2. “President Macron wants to text Jack” On October 14, 2020, Twitter’s Public Policy Director for France and Russia wrote, “President Macron's team has been asking me (again!) Jack's number because the President wants to text him some supporting words re our new policies and
- 3. “Macron only sends texts to people he is close to and works frequently with…” The first reply came from Twitter's Global Vice President of Public Affairs, who copied Vijaya Gadde, one of the platform's chief censors. This Global Vice President of Public Affairs noted, “I
- 4. CONTEXT: Escalating lawfare and censorship under Macron’s presidency France has long presented itself as the cradle of modern democratic ideals, born of the Revolution of 1789 and enshrined in the motto “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.” In reality, few Western governments have more sway on free speech than France. The French government and its Censorship Industrial Complex have used various methods, including judicial intimidation, to demand censorship from social media platforms. In August last year, French police arrested Pavel Durov, the founder of the social media company Telegram, and held him for four days. France indicted him on a staggering list of charges, including complicity in organized crime, criminal conspiracy, and facilitating terrorism. Durov has alleged that the director of France's foreign intelligence service urged him to suppress conservative voices on Telegram in the wake of Romania’s presidential election rerun, which followed its cancellation.
- 5. “This case is largely about painting Twitter as a dangerous actor in the press.” Macron’s request for Dorsey’s number appears to be linked with the simultaneous launch of a lawsuit by four French government-linked NGOs against Twitter. “We were sued back in the spring by6. “They are concerned that we let users Tweet anonymously” Following a mediation session with the NGOs on November 7, 2020, Colangelo updated her colleagues: “The NGOs articulated their concerns, which, broadly speaking, are (1) they feel we are not actioning hate speech7. “I am not surprised that they are trying now to go back to court and make some public statement…” Twitter executives knew the timing of the NGOs’ lawsuit was not coincidental. “From a public policy standpoint,” wrote Audrey Herblin-Stoop, Twitter’s Public Policy Director8. CONTEXT: France invented the Censorship Industrial Complex 53 years ago From royal censors to revolutionary tribunals, Napoleonic decrees to Vichy oppression, France’s history has long been defined by the tug-of-war between censorship and free speech. France’s 1972 Pleven9. Macron Leads Censorship Effort The year 2016 marked an inflection point in the state’s crackdown on online speech. Events like Brexit, Trump’s victory, the Arab Spring, and France’s Yellow Vest movement, organized via social media, convinced elites that “information10. “—we were planning to confidentially disclose some information sought by the NGOs to them in exchange for them dropping the suit” The NGOs would not settle, despite Twitter’s efforts to cooperate. And so Twitter caved, offering to censor its platform — for all users — in11. “We should be cognisant of the precedent we are setting here which could trigger more asks of this nature into the future.” Twitter also agreed to send a letter from CEO Jack Dorsey to the NGOs, promising stronger action in the future. The “plaintiffs in the UEJF hate12. “Notably, the lawsuit was very strategically timed…” On March 10, 2021, Colangelo wrote up a brief for Edgett to share with Dorsey on why they wanted the letter. “The lawsuit is one part of a larger effort in France to paint Twitter as a bad actor. Notably, the lawsuit was13. Macron Attempts to Circumvent French Law The apparent coordination between the NGOs, the hate speech bill, and Macron’s attempt to contact Dorsey could easily be seen as attempts to circumvent the law. Under French law, the state is barred from imposing preemptive censorship14. Miss France's attorney demands censorship: "What would have happened if Twitter was around in 1942? Would they have allowed Hitler to speak?" The NGOs cited displeasure with how Twitter was handling alleged online harassment of Miss France. "Despite Plaintiffs' initial15. “Twitter's moderation… can undermine public order and the proper functioning of our society.” French courts in 2022 prosecuted then-Twitter France CEO, Damien Viel for alleged “non compliance with a judicial injunction” and “complicity to libel.” The issue? A unit of the16. “How likely do you think a raid is on the Twitter France office?” It was a show trial that failed to persuade the judge. “Damien was just perfect,” wrote Twitter’s French attorney in a July 9, 2021 email to Twitter executives about the hearing. “The police officer was very17. France is now going after Elon Musk’s X In July 2025, a Paris prosecutor launched a criminal investigation into Elon Musk’s X and its management for alleged interference with an IT system, fraudulent data extraction, and foreign interference. These are significant18. The US Must Resist Global Censorship The TWITTER FILES - FRANCE reveals a previously unknown aspect of the rise of the Censorship Industrial Complex, which is that nation’s role in pioneering government censorship-by-NGO proxy, which was at the heart of the US Department of
