A press release purportedly issued by France’s Ministry of the Interior is widely shared on social media stating that Internet services will be temporarily suspended during night hours in specific areas of Paris to curb the misuse of online media platforms amid ongoing protests.
The image is shared on Facebook with a caption: “BREAKING: FRANCE TO RESTRICT ALL INTERNET ACCESS STARTING TONIGHT”
Here’s the link to the above post.
FACT CHECK
NewsMobile fact-checked the above claim, and found it to be FALSE.
Performing a keyword search, we could not find any credible media report corroborating the viral claim. Even the official websites of the French government has not carried any official communication or press releases regarding suspensions of Internet services in specific areas of Paris.
Searching further, NM team found clarification posted on the verified social media pages of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, where they addressed the viral press release. According to their post, the press release is “false” and “no such decision has been taken” regarding Internet shutdowns in France.
#UrbanViolence | Beware of #FakeNews
📃 A “press release” from the French national police force @PoliceNationale has claimed that temporary restrictions have been imposed on Internet access in certain neighbourhoods.
❌ This document is FALSE: no such decision has been taken. pic.twitter.com/IyvFK3bN1z
— France Diplomacy🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@francediplo_EN) July 3, 2023
France Protests
Violent protests erupted in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris, following the alleged fatal shooting of a 17-year-old boy named Nahel by the police during a traffic stop. The situation escalated, leading to the deployment of around 40,000 police personnel and riot officers in Paris to control the protests. Over 700 protestors have been arrested so far. In response to the unrest, French President Emmanuel Macron appealed for peace and called for calm. He expressed concern over the involvement of children in the protests, stating in a tweet that more than a third of those arrested during the weekend were minors.
Thus, it is evident from the above information that the viral press release is fake and has not been issued by France’s Ministry of the Interior.
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