This is a victory in the fight against Kremlin propaganda: 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 Union of Ukrainians of France, Arcom (the public authority for the regulation of audiovisual and digital communication) 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 obligated to act diligently to enforce them.

In France, internet service providers, search engines, and social media platforms generally complied with the initial sanctions against RT France and Sputnik. However, this was not the case with regard to 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 (the French telecommunications regulatory authority). Neither the European Commission nor the French authorities (unlike in other member states) published implementation guidelines, let alone detailed lists of the affected news outlets.

The SREN law, enacted on May 21, 2024, granted Arcom new powers, enabling it to intervene with operators to enforce European sanctions. Penalties are stipulated for non-compliance.

The Authority, however, was slow to take ownership of these new powers. On May 14, at the initiative of the Diderot Committee and its partners (For Ukraine, Their Freedom and Ours, Reporters Without Borders, Russia-Liberties, Union of Ukrainians in France), an opinion piece was published in Le Monde , signed by leading members of parliament, academics, and audiovisual professionals. The signatories expressed their astonishment at Arcom's delay in enforcing the sanctions. A demonstration was organized in front of the Authority's headquarters on May 21, on the first anniversary of the SREN law.

Arcom agreed to engage in dialogue and ultimately responded to these actions. The decisions announced in a press release on July 3rd correspond to the core of the reports submitted: internet service providers and search engines are instructed to block or delist 19 websites belonging to major sanctioned Russian media outlets. Formal notices or letters of observation are also being sent to various platforms regarding the dissemination of sanctioned channels or accounts belonging to sanctioned Russian propagandists.

The Diderot Committee and its partners note with satisfaction these interventions by Arcom, while continuing to regret their belated nature. In the coming weeks, they will certainly monitor their proper implementation by the operators.

The intervention of the French authorities takes on considerable importance in the European context. Many other member states have not yet asked their broadcasters to enforce European sanctions. The issue is particularly urgent in Germany, where state-run channels continue to have a significant audience within the large Russian community.