Twitter has been banned in France as part of a broader clampdown on online hate speech, according to a report by AFP.

Twitter has been banned in France as part of a broader clampdown on online hate speech, AFP reports. In a move that could be a significant shift in the use of such measures, the country has issued a decree that deems the social media services an "hate platform", effectively blocking access to the platform. This move comes on the heels of an order from a Paris court that requires internet service providers to block access to Twitter. The decision follows a similar move by Germany.<br><br>France has de facto blocked so-called "hate platforms" since a law was introduced in August 2022. This new decree marks a shift in strategy, with the government seeking to prevent online hate speech before it happens. The AFP report suggests that the French government has had significant success in blocking access to hate speech online, with a reported 95% drop in visits to sites that promote hate speech.<br><br>The ban follows a recent ruling that ordered Twitter to reveal the identity of the account owner who posted racist comments on the platform. This ruling led to increased scrutiny of Twitter's moderation practices, with critics accusing the platform of failing to effectively address hate speech. Twitter has been criticized for not doing enough to stop the spread of hate speech, misinformation and harassment.<br><br>According to the AFP report, Twitter is the first platform to be banned under this decree. Prior to the ban, French authorities blocked access to Twitter after discovering that it was being used to disseminate hate speech. This marks the first time a social media platform has been labeled as a "hate platform" in France, leading to a broader clampdown.<br><br>Twitter has yet to respond to the news. The AFP report suggests that the platform is facing significant pressure to adhere to stricter content moderation rules in Europe. This move is seen as an attempt to hold social media platforms accountable for hosting harmful content. France has been at the forefront of efforts to regulate big tech companies, with the government pushing for stricter regulations on platforms.<br><br>The ban has sparked a heated debate about freedom of speech and online censorship. Twitter has previously faced criticism for not doing enough to address hate speech and misinformation on the platform. Critics argue that the company needs to do more to police harmful content.