Internet & Online Safety - France

The directly-applicable EU Digital Services Act governs platform content moderation, notice-and-action, transparency, and obligations for very large platforms; the SREN law adapts French law to enable its application and designates national authorities. Sanctions can reach up to 6% of worldwide turnover.

Law No. 2024-449 of 21 May 2024 'to secure and regulate the digital space' is France's national statute layering measures on top of the DSA, promulgated after partial censure by the Conseil constitutionnel.

France designated ARCOM as the Digital Services Coordinator on 21 March 2024; CNIL handles data-protection aspects and DGCCRF supervises marketplaces and is the authority responsible for DSA enforcement against them (specified from January 2025).

SREN empowers ARCOM to set binding minimum technical standards for age-verification systems; ARCOM adopted its référentiel on 9 October 2024 (after CNIL and Commission review), requiring 'double anonymity' and giving covered porn sites three months to comply, with audit powers and fines.

SREN mandates removal of child-sexual-abuse material within 24 hours and introduces a complementary criminal penalty of suspension/banning from social networks for those convicted of cyber-harassment or online hate ('bannissement numérique').

The law creates a national 'anti-scam' cybersecurity filter that warns users before they reach known malicious sites flagged via fraudulent SMS/email, and adds powers to counter disinformation from sanctioned foreign media.