France - US Embassy Paris notice: A security alert to US citizens was issued due to mass demonstrations and damage to property and public buildings -

[sharon sanders]

SECURITY ALERT – U.S. EMBASSY PARIS, FRANCE (JUNE 29, 2023) By U.S. MISSION TO FRANCE


JUNE 29, 2023

SECURITY ALERT – U.S. EMBASSY PARIS, FRANCE (JUNE 29, 2023)




Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Paris, France – Potentially Violent Protests

(June 29, 2023)

Location: Throughout France

Event: Following the June 27 police shooting in the Parisian suburb of Nanterre, demonstrations are taking place in the greater Paris region and other major urban centers with reports of damage to private property and public buildings. These demonstrations, along with spontaneous protests, are expected to continue and may turn violent. U.S. citizens should avoid mass gatherings and areas of significant police activity as they can turn violent and result in clashes. Some cities are imposing curfews. As always, it is a good practice to notify friends or family of your whereabouts. Note that public transportation is being affected.

Actions to Take:

• Avoid demonstrations and protest activity
• Avoid areas with significant police activity
• If unavoidable, protect yourself/find shelter
• Follow the advice of police and local authorities
• Monitor local media for updates
• Be aware of your surroundings

U.S. citizens may monitor English-language French media at the following:

• http://www.france24.com/en/
• http://en.rfi.fr/france/
• https://www.thelocal.fr/

Assistance:

U.S. Embassy Paris, France

+33 (1) 43 12 22 22

CitizenInfo@state.gov

U.S. Consulate General Marseille, France
+33 (1) 43 12 22 22
CitizenInfoMarseille@state.gov

U.S. Consulate General Strasbourg, France
+33 (1) 43 12 22 22
USAStrasbourg@state.gov

State Department – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444

France Country Specific Information

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook .​

https://fr.usembassy.gov/security-alert-u-s-embassy-paris-france-june-29-2023/

 

[sharon sanders]

Grandmother of teen killed in police stop calls for calm, as France sees sixth night of protest

By Jake Kwon, Heather Chen, Xiaofei Xu, Martin Goillandeau, Alex Hardie, Alex Stambaugh and Sophie Tanno, CNN
Updated 7:20 AM EDT, Mon July 3, 2023

CNN —
The grandmother of the 17-year-old boy who was fatally shot by a police officer in a Paris suburb last week has called for an end to the violence that stretched into a sixth night after his death.

Victim Nahel Merzouk’s grandmother appealed to protesters on Sunday, telling CNN’s affiliate BFMTV: “They should not damage the schools, not break the buses, it was the moms who take the buses.”
​
more.... https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/02/worl...lence-mayors-house-attack-intl-hnk/index.html
​

 

[Pathfinder]

Translation Google

The French government is considering restricting social networks in the event of riots

“We need to have a reflection on the use of these networks among the youngest, in families, at school, the prohibitions that we must put”, underlined President Emmanuel Macron, who we sees here Monday facing hundreds of mayors, according to comments reported by the press and confirmed by the Élysée.

Agence France-Presse​
in Paris
July 5, 2023
Europe

The French government plans to apply ad hoc restrictions on certain "functionalities" of social networks in the event of riots, but it does not intend to carry out a " generalized blackout " of these platforms, assured Wednesday a spokesperson.

"It can be feature suspensions," government spokesman Olivier Véran said, referring to the tools that are available during situations such as the riots that rocked France last week, sparked by the death of a teenager, Nahel, shot at point-blank range by a police officer on 27 June.

“For example, you have geolocation functions, on certain platforms, which allow young people to find themselves in such a place, by showing scenes, how to set fires, etc. [These are] calls for the organization of hatred in the public space, and there you have the authority to be able to suspend, ”he said on behalf of the Council of Ministers.

Olivier Véran was invited to clarify comments made the day before by President Emmanuel Macron to some 300 mayors of municipalities who were victims of violence during the riots. According to the entourage of the Head of State, the latter “has at no time said that he planned to cut the networks in the sense of a generalized blackout ”. It is about “being able to punctually and temporarily suspend social networks”, added this source.

"We need to have a reflection on the use of these networks among the youngest, in families, at school, the prohibitions that must be put in place", underlined President Macron, according to comments reported by the press and confirmed by the Élysée.

For example, you have geo-location functions, on certain platforms, which allow young people to find themselves in such a place, by showing scenes, how to set fires, etc.

—Olivier Veran

The reactions were quick. “Cut off social networks? Like China, Iran, North Korea? launched with irony the president of the right-wing group Les Républicains in the National Assembly, Olivier Marleix, on Twitter , deploring a “provocation in very bad taste”.

“OK Kim Jong-un”, wrote in the same vein the president of the radical left group La France insoumise in the Assembly, Mathilde Panot, in reference to the North Korean leader.

“That would be to renounce the idea that democracy is stronger than the tools that are used against it. It would be a mistake, ” also indicated the deputy of the presidential Renaissance party, Éric Bothorel.

Moderation and State Requests

The Minister responsible for the Digital Transition, Jean-Noël Barrot, proposed Tuesday evening in the Senate the establishment of a working group on the measures to be taken in the event of riots, which could be integrated into the bill aimed at "secure" the Internet.

His ministry welcomed on Wednesday that the major platforms, such as Twitter, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram (Meta) as well as Snapchat, had "very quickly removed thousands of illegal content" - calls for violence, disclosure of personal data of police officers , etc. — “and suspended hundreds of accounts” at the request of the state during the recent wave of urban violence.

TikTok said it stepped up moderation during the riots, but said it never received a request to block features. Snapchat and Meta have for their part affirmed to be vigilant and proactive in the current context, saying that they ban content inciting hatred or violence.


https://www.ledevoir.com/monde/euro...treindre-les-reseaux-sociaux-en-cas-d-emeutes