Council of Ministers adopts bill on foreign online interference with extraterritorial reach

Meeting on 22 July 2026, the French Council of Ministers approved a draft law empowering judges to order the rapid takedown of large-scale disinformation campaigns when they threaten “the integrity of the Nation or the safety of French citizens at home and abroad.” The bill, driven by the interior ministry, creates an emergency procedure that can be triggered by prosecutors or any person with standing—including French companies with overseas staff—before a specially designated judicial chamber. Courts would be able to mandate internet-service providers and hosting platforms, wherever located, to block or de-index offending content within hours. Fines climb to €4 million for non-compliance and can be doubled for repeat offenders. While primarily a national-security measure, the proposal has clear mobility implications. Multinationals frequently rely on corporate social-media channels to brief travelling employees during crises; the law ensures that spoofed or deep-fake travel advisories targeting French nationals can be neutralised swiftly. It also extends the existing 2018 ‘anti-manipulation’ regime—previously limited to election periods—to any moment where urgent foreign interference arises, covering misinformation about visa requirements, border closures or health measures that could strand travellers. Critics worry about extra-territorial reach and potential conflicts with other jurisdictions’ free-speech standards. The government insists the text balances freedom of expression with the need to protect citizens and democratic processes, pointing out that orders are subject to appeal before the Cour d’appel within 24 hours. If enacted this autumn, companies should designate a legal representative to receive court notifications and ensure rapid compliance across their global web domains—a new item on the checklist for French corporate-mobility managers.