The French lower house of Parliament passed a bill this week requiring social media platforms to remove hate-filled and toxic posts within 24 hours or face massive fines.
The bill gives online platform operators 24 hours to take down racist and sexist posts and one hour to remove content promoting child pornography or terrorism.A file photo show social media apps displayed on a mobile phone.Laetitia Avia, a member of the French National Assembly, congratulated the bill's passing as"ending impunity and building a new regulation for social networks."
However, the new legislation is being criticized. Opponents expressed concerns that social media platforms could potentially infringe on freedom of expression. "We have clear rules in this area and have invested a lot in human and technological resources to better identify and remove this type of content. Regulation has a role to play in helping to combat it. We will work closely with the Superior Audiovisual Council and all stakeholders to implement the provisions of the law," said a Facebook spokesperson.
"One cannot completely exonerate from responsibility the platforms," said Loïc Rivière, CEO of Tech in France, a professional union representing software and internet companies. He said while putting the responsibility on platforms to police content is expedient, the solution is far from adequate."The harder the task is made for [social media platforms], the more the question of the effectiveness of the means arises," he added.
The proposed legislation comes following controversy surrounding Laetitia Avia who has been under fire for alleged sexist, homophobic and racist remarks. She has denied the allegations and announced she would file a complaint for defamation.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
U.S. becoming first country to get French coronavirus vaccine is 'unacceptable,' says French officialFrench government officials have responded to a recent statement from biomedical company Sanofi saying it would offer the U.S. first priority should its vaccine candidate be approved for widespread distribution.
Read more »
Mary-Kate Olsen And Her French Banker Husband Are Getting DivorcedAnother couple bites the dust while in quarantine.
Read more »
Chicago-Area Woman Is Mauled to Death by Her Adopted French Bulldog: 'She Loved That Animal'Bleeding heavily, Lisa Urso managed to make it outside to the porch, where her body was later found by friends
Read more »
Mary-Kate Is Reportedly Divorcing Her French HusbandAfter five years of marriage, ushered in with a wedding that featured bowls filled with cigarettes, Mary-Kate Olsen is trying to divorce Olivier Sarkozy. And it’s already turned acrimonious
Read more »
French Serial Killer 'Expert' Admits to Inventing a Murdered Wife for AttentionA French writer and self-proclaimed serial killer expert who has long maintained that he was first called to the world of profiling killers after finding his partner raped and murdered has revealed he is actually just an expert at making shit up after being busted by a group of amateur YouTube sleuths.\n
Read more »
CMA CGM taps French loan scheme to boost cash in coronavirus crisisShipping group CMA CGM has obtained a 1.05 billion euro ($1.1 billion) loan to be 70% guaranteed by the French government as it seeks to bolster its cash position during the coronavirus pandemic, which has hammered international trade.
Read more »