My French professor once asked the class, “What happens when the French are not happy and dancing and singing?” After pondering for a few minutes, we scrunched our faces in ignorance, to which he yelled:
“Revolution!”
His sentiment has been proven throughout history, even this month. On May 15, Reuters reported that three anti-racism associations have threatened to file legal complaints against Facebook, Twitter and Youtube for “failing to remove ‘hateful’ content posted on their platforms.”
The 1990 Gayssot Act (Loi Gayssot), invoked by Communist Jean-Claude Gayssot, was enacted in order to prohibit Holocaust denial. While the French constitution guarantees free speech, anything that endangers or threatens others, even by advocating illegal drugs, is banned under this law. According to Reuters, “Twitter removed 4 percent [of hate speech], Youtube 7 percent and Facebook 34 percent” as reported by UEJF, a French Jewish students union; SOS Racisme, an anti-racism campaign group; and SOS Homophobie, an anti-homophobia campaign group.
The three major French political parties are Parti Socialiste, Front National, and Front de Gauche. Francois Hollande’s Parti Socialiste is France’s democratic socialist party, which is followed in popularity by the right-wing populist Front National and then the Communist Front de Gauche party. The adversarial nature of France’s political climate keeps the system on its toes with the democratic possibility of overhaul ever-present. Strong leaders like President Hollande are thus needed to coerce the nation into fortitude, each with his or her own varied level and duration of success. Having the Parti Socialiste and the Front National as the leading parties allows France to simultaneously evolve with the economic, social and international trends of the times and to solidify its past by alternating the far left and far right ideologies. When the people no longer agree with how the public sector handles private affairs, they not only empower the private sector but also demand accountability from the government.
France’s democracy gives most of the power to the people through two largely socialist parties and one large right-wing party, allowing individuals to exercise their power through collective action. When the population wants to get involved, it does so in a big way that actually impacts the government.
The 21st century is defining itself as the century of assured identity, which reserves no seats for hate speech. Corporations, even those which provide free services, must bend to this within a reasonable margin if they aim to remain competitive in the climate. When Germany had a problem with Facebook, Twitter and Youtube, they were able to make the companies comply with their demands with 24 hours; hopefully the resolution of France's demands will be similarly swift after the legal complaints are filed.
Otherwise, a French teacher-led revolution may be on their hands.
