France Seeks Power to Block Social Media and Tap into Cellphones

First, on July 4, during a meeting with mayors, Macron suggested the government needs the authority to regulate or block social media platforms during major protests. Then, French lawmakers on July 5 authorized police to surveil suspects by accessing their device’s GPS, camera, and microphone with a judge’s permission, the national newspaper Le Monde reported. The measure is part of a larger bill on judicial reform that is now making its way through the French parliament.