President Emmanuel Macron has voiced his criticism of social media and video games, claiming that they are exacerbating the riots that have erupted following the tragic killing of a teenager by Parisian police.
On June 27, 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk was pulled over by two police officers for speeding in a bus lane. According to reports, Merzouk attempted to flee the scene, resulting in one of the officers shooting him.
A heartbreaking hour later, Merzouk was declared dead. Videos capturing the incident have since sparked riots not only within France, but also in French territories, as well as French-speaking areas of Switzerland and Belgium.
This Friday, President Emmanuel Macron expressed his view that the death of the teenager is both “inexplicable” and “inexcusable.” However, he also emphasized the need for protests to be conducted in a controlled manner in order for justice to prevail.
The President highlighted that a significant proportion of those arrested in the riots were “young or very young.” He attributed this to the influence of social media in organizing the protests and suggested that video games are also responsible for their actions.
Macron argued that violent video games prompt a “disconnection from reality,” stating that the young protesters “are acting out the video games that have corrupted their minds.”
#Macron blames video games and social media for French riots.#FranceProtests pic.twitter.com/Tc3rm1jX2z
— In Context (@incontextmedia) July 1, 2023
Macron emphasized that it is the “responsibility of parents to keep [protesters] at home” and urged social media platforms to remove “sensitive content” related to the riots.
However, Macron’s statement has faced criticism from supporters of the rioters, who argue that it detracts from the tragedy of the incident and undermines the human response to the loss of a young life.
Recently, the United Nations Human Rights office urged the French government to address the “deep-rooted issues of racism and racial discrimination” present in its law enforcement agencies.
The police officer suspected of shooting Nahel was charged with “voluntary homicide by a person in authority” on June 29 and is currently under investigation.
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