French President Emmanuel Macron warned Friday that Europe has been “too weak and too naive” in confronting foreign interference and online disinformation.
Speaking at the high-profile Munich Security Conference, Macron said unregulated digital platforms allow harmful and manipulative narratives to go unchecked and warned that foreign interference poses a security risk in elections.
“We are opening the Pandora box and allowing a lot of hate of speech in these platforms and social media. We are too weak and too naive vis-à-vis external interferences and foreign differences,” Macron said. “No doubt, we should forbid the capacity of these guys to interfere in our public space, and we should ask this platform first to completely block trolls bots.”
Macron called for stricter enforcement of the European Union’s Digital Services Act, including requirements for algorithmic transparency and stronger action against bot networks and coordinated manipulation campaigns.
He said platforms must take responsibility for removing illegal content and blocking organized foreign interference.
France has taken an assertive approach toward regulating major tech platforms, including investigations in compliance with EU digital rules.
Earlier this month, Parisian officials conducted a search of facilities connected to Elon Musk’s X as part of an investigation into regulatory obligations.
