Anadolu staff
03 October 2025•Update: 03 October 2025
BERLIN
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday sharply criticized US and Chinese social media platforms for undermining democracies in Europe and renewed his call for stronger regulation of online platforms.
"We were very naive to leave our public space to social media networks controlled by US or Chinese companies that don't share our interests and not interested in survival of our democracies,” he said in a landmark speech delivered in Germany.
Macron noted that social media algorithms were mainly designed to drive polarization, with companies allowing anonymous accounts to spread hateful content because they were primarily focused on driving more traffic and earning advertising revenue.
"If we want democracy, if we want science, culture, education, learning to be at the heart of the public space, we need to protect our children and teenagers," he said, emphasizing the need for regulation of social media networks. “They need to comply with the same rules as the physical public space. People cannot be hidden. False accounts, trolls should not be allowed,” Macron stressed.
The French president drew a parallel with newspapers, stressing that just as they are held accountable for what they publish in the public space, social networks should adhere to the same standards.
"Otherwise, it's hate and racism that are going to triumph on our continent. We have the opportunity to rebuild a genuine democracy, but we must take action," Macron said, drawing enthusiastic applause from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the other politicians in attendance.
Macron and his wife Brigitte were guests of honor at celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of German reunification, held in Saarbrucken, the capital of the southwestern state of Saarland bordering France.
