Following the mobilization of French civil society, and in particular the Diderot Committee and the associations For Ukraine, Their Freedom and Ours, Russia-Liberties and the Union of Ukrainians of France, Arcom has finally asked Internet operators to respect European sanctions against Russian propaganda.

Since February 2022, the European Union has adopted various sanctions against Russian propagandists, channels, and media groups. In principle, these sanctions are immediately applicable to operators, and national authorities are obliged to act diligently to enforce them.

In France, internet service providers, search engines, and social media platforms generally complied relatively well with the initial sanctions against RT France and Sputnik. However, this was not the case with the sanctions against propagandists and media groups. When questioned about this, operators responded that they could not decide to block websites or channels without the intervention of a court or Arcom. Neither the European Commission nor the French authorities (unlike what has been done in other member states) have published implementing guidelines, let alone detailed lists of the information channels concerned.

The SREN law, promulgated on May 21, 2024, gave Arcom new powers, allowing it to intervene with operators to enforce European sanctions. Penalties are provided for in the event of non-compliance.

However, the Authority has been slow to take up these new powers. On May 14, at the initiative of the Diderot Committee and its partners (For Ukraine, Their Freedom and Ours, RSF, Russia-Liberties, Union of Ukrainians in France), an op-ed was published in Le Monde , signed by leading parliamentarians, academics, and audiovisual professionals. The signatories expressed surprise at ARCOM's slowness in enforcing sanctions. A demonstration was organized in front of the authority's headquarters on May 21, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the SREN law.

ARCOM agreed to the dialogue and ultimately responded to these actions. The decisions announced in a press release on July 3 correspond to the bulk of the reports provided: Internet service providers and search engines are being asked to block or delist 19 sites belonging to the main sanctioned Russian media outlets. Formal notices or letters of observation are also being sent to various platforms regarding the broadcasting of sanctioned channels or the accounts of sanctioned Russian propagandists.

The Diderot Committee and its partners welcome these interventions by Arcom, while continuing to regret their lateness. In the coming weeks, they will be sure to monitor their proper implementation by the operators.

The French authorities' intervention takes on a certain importance in the European context. Many other member states have not yet asked their operators to enforce European sanctions. The issue is particularly urgent in Germany, where official channels continue to enjoy a significant audience within the large Russian community.