Focus on the BIG picture.
Sunday, Jan 19, 2025

France Blocks TikTok in New Caledonia Amid Violent Clashes

The French government has blocked TikTok in New Caledonia following violent clashes that left five people dead. Civil liberties groups have challenged the decision, calling it censorship. The violence began amid debates over a constitutional reform that could affect the representation of the indigenous Kanak population.
The French government has blocked access to TikTok in New Caledonia following violent clashes that left five people dead and over a hundred injured.

The violence, which began on Monday, prompted a state of emergency in the South Pacific archipelago, an overseas territory of France.

Among the fatalities were two police officers, marking the worst violence in the territory since 1988.

This suspension of TikTok is the first time an entire social media platform has been shut down by authorities in France or the European Union.

French law allows for such measures during state emergencies to prevent incitement or glorification of terrorism.

However, civil liberties groups, including the Ligue des droits de l'Homme and La Quadrature du Net, have filed legal challenges against the decision, calling it censorship and a blow to freedom of expression.

The French government cited the risks of disinformation and foreign interference as reasons for the block.

TikTok expressed regret over the decision, noting that it had not been contacted by local or French authorities regarding content removal.

The clashes in New Caledonia occurred as the French parliament debated a constitutional reform to expand the electorate for provincial elections and referendums.

Pro-independence leaders fear this reform will underrepresent the Kanak population, the indigenous people of New Caledonia.

The region has held three referendums on independence from France, all of which resulted in a majority voting to remain part of France.

The most recent vote in 2021 was boycotted by pro-independence groups.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Florida's Key Role in President Trump's New Administration
Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Attorney General Ashley Moody to U.S. Senate
RedNote Welcomes TikTok Users Amid Facebook protection act against TikTok operation in the U.S.
Julia Sebutinde to Lead International Court of Justice: A Historic Transition
S.E.C. Sues Elon Musk Over Alleged Twitter-Related Securities Violations
Rising Alcohol Consumption Among Middle-Aged Adults Sparks Health Concerns
China Considers Selling TikTok U.S. Operations to Elon Musk Amid Looming Ban
France Urges EU to Act on Musk's Political Influence as Tensions Rise
British Court Denies Man’s Appeal to Search Landfill for Bitcoin Worth $765 Million
Former EU Commissioner Acknowledges EU’s Role in Romanian Election Cancellation
Los Angeles Wildfires Threaten Prominent Brentwood Residences, Homes of Vice President Harris, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and LeBron James at Risk as Fires Approach
Protests Erupt in Italy After Police-Involved Death Sparks Public Outrage
Governor Newsom Waives Environmental Rules to Expedite Wildfire Recovery
Apple Board Recommends Rejecting Proposal to End Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs
Celebrity Responses to California Wildfires: Charity, Criticism, and Controversy
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Finalize Their Divorce After Five Months
The Wildfires of Los Angeles: A Devastating Impact on Celebrities and California's Leadership
President Biden Awards Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction to Pope Francis
President Biden and Vice President Harris Address California's Devastating Wildfires: A National Crisis Response
California Wildfires: Tragedy and Destruction as Los Angeles Battles Infernos
Supreme Court Rejects Trump's Bid to Delay Sentencing in Hush Money Case
Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado Allegedly Detained Amid Protests
European Imports of Russian LNG Surge to Record Levels Amidst Geopolitical Tensions
Joseph Aoun Elected as Lebanon's President After Protracted Stalemate
BepiColombo Completes Final Flyby of Mercury, Captures Unprecedented Images
World’s Most Wanted Female ISIS Terrorist Found Living Freely in Syria
Jimmy Carter Celebrated for Lifelong Service at Washington Memorial
Palestinian Death Toll Exceeds 46,000 Amid Protracted Conflict, Reports Gaza Health Ministry
Brazil Condemns Meta's Decision to End Factchecking as 'Detrimental to Democracy'
Deadly Attack on Chad's Presidential Palace Amid Political Turmoil
US Government Blocks Guilty Pleas in 9/11 Case Amid Legal Dispute
Birkenstock Battles Copycats: German Court to Decide on Sandals' Artistic Status
Greenland's Prime Minister Urges Unity Amid Geopolitical Tensions
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy Dismisses Trump's Greenland Seizure Threat
Murder Investigation Launched in Spain Following Discovery of Belfast Man's Body
Zelenskyy Appeals for Sustained Western Support Amid Anticipated Trump Presidency
Giorgia Meloni Accepts Invitation to Attend Donald Trump's Potential Inauguration
Boeing and Google Pledge $1 Million each to Trump's Inauguration Fund
Western Allies Commit $2bn in Additional Military Aid to Ukraine Amid Ongoing Conflict
Renaming Geopolitics: Mexico's President Engages with Trump's Gulf Proposal
U.S. Supreme Court Denies Trump Request to Delay Sentencing in Hush Money Case
US Supreme Court Rejects Trump's Plea to Delay Sentencing in Hush-Money Case
Chinese Actor Rescued from Myanmar's Scam Centres After Viral Post Raises Awareness
Germany Faces Alarming Rise in Homelessness, New Report Shows
California Wildfires Set to Become Costliest in U.S. History
China’s Appetite for Salmon: A Game Changer in Global Seafood Markets
Pepe Review – Examining the Legacy of Pablo Escobar's Hippos
Wildfires Ravage Southern California Amid Historic Windstorm
Justin Trudeau to Step Down as Canada's Prime Minister Amid Political Turmoil
Trump's Potential National Emergency to Impose Tariffs Sparks Global Concerns
×