Macron calls social media a threat to democracy and says French authorities “completely failed to foresee” October 17 riots

Speaking in Marseille, Emmanuel Macron described social media as a threat to democracy and said French authorities had been unprepared for the October 17 unrest, which turned into arson, looting and clashes with police. He said officials “completely failed to foresee what happened.”

Macron also noted that “numerous far-left groups began mobilizing early in the morning,” calling that timing unusual for them.

He said social media draws young people into violence and had been used, especially on October 17, to bring young people and older people to places where offenses, attacks and robberies were taking place.