Following the violence in Liège and Brussels, the MR group in the Chamber is calling for concrete measures to prevent social media, TikTok in particular, from becoming echo chambers for antisocial and criminal acts.
As new calls circulate to gather this Saturday, 24 October, in Brussels, MR federal MP Victoria Vandeberg questioned the Minister for Digital Affairs, Vanessa Matz, during a plenary session.
Promising to burn a bin in exchange for likes, filming destruction to rack up views, turning clashes into spectacle: the digital one-upmanship has very real consequences for shopkeepers, residents and police officers.
“The race for likes must not become a race for violence. Social media are not lawless spaces, and platforms cannot simply watch their algorithms spread calls for destruction. But reminding them of their responsibilities does not excuse the government from assuming its own,” stresses Victoria Vandeberg.
Following the demonstrations of 17 October, and ahead of 24 October, the French government intends to curb – without blocking – the use of social media. TikTok France says it has adjusted certain search settings linked to the protests. The company states it has activated its critical events protocol, deployed a dedicated team, blocked terms inciting violence, disabled autocomplete for searches related to the protests, and limited search suggestions. The platform also announces video removals, livestream suspensions and account bans.
An example for us to follow? Minister Vanessa Matz has announced that she has called in BIPT and wants to convene the platforms concerned. The MR group now expects a precise timetable, verifiable commitments and an operational framework. With new calls to gather this Saturday in Brussels, the response cannot be limited to a meeting whose date and outcome remain uncertain.
“What system will make it possible, from this Saturday, to report and have content promptly dealt with that encourages violence or calls for destruction? When will the platforms be convened, and what concrete commitments does the minister intend to secure? In the face of viral violence, we expect a response that is not virtual,” insists the liberal MP.
The MR group is also calling for stronger cooperation between the platforms, the competent authorities and investigative services: clearly identified contacts, rapid reporting procedures and measures to limit the amplification of content encouraging violence, while respecting the legal framework and fundamental freedoms. This is not about preventing people from demonstrating, informing or debating, but about not allowing communication tools to become accelerators of destruction.
“A minority cannot be allowed to impose its image on an entire generation. Young people who reject this violence must also be heard. Like residents and shopkeepers, they expect everyone to take responsibility: those who commit these acts, those who encourage them, the platforms that amplify them, and the authorities responsible for acting,” concludes Victoria Vandeberg.