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Twitter has told the French government it will not run adverts promoting the Interior Ministry's campaign urging the electorate to vote, following a new law clamping down on misinformation and covert political advertising.
The campaign #Ouijevote, which encourages voting in May’s European Parliament elections, will not be able to post sponsored tweets on the site.
Twitter says it risks breaking regulations by posting adverts paid for by the French government, according to the Government Information Service (SIG)
“Twitter has decided to follow an entirely hard-line approach which is to slash every campaign of a political nature,” SIG, which co-ordinated the campaign with the French interior ministry, told Agence France -Presse.
“This is a public information campaign,” the SIG said. “It is not a political or party campaign.”
Show all 20 1 /20Yellow Vests Protest France March 2019 Yellow Vests Protest France March 2019 A Yellow Vest protester dressed as a Gaul takes part in an anti-government demonstration called by the 'Yellow Vest' (gilets jaunes) movement in Paris, on March 23, 2019. - Demonstrators hit French city streets again on March 23, for a 19th consecutive week of nationwide protest against the French President's policies and his top-down style of governing, high cost of living, government tax reforms and for more "social and economic justice."
KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP/Getty Images
Yellow Vests Protest France March 2019 A protester holds a placard reads in French ''Empire expires'' during a rally in Paris, Saturday, March 23, 2019. Yellow vest demonstrators gathered in Paris and other French cities for a 19th round of demonstrations as authorities issued bans on protests in certain areas and enhanced security measures in an effort to avoid a repeat of last week's riots in the capital.
AP Photo/Michel Euler
Yellow Vests Protest France March 2019 Yellow Vest protesters hold a banner reading 'RIC (Citizen's Initiated Referendum)' during an anti-government demonstration called by the 'Yellow Vest' (gilets jaunes) movement in Paris, on March 23, 2019. - Demonstrators hit French city streets again on March 23, for a 19th consecutive week of nationwide protest against the French President's policies and his top-down style of governing, high cost of living, government tax reforms and for more "social and economic justice."
FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty Images
Yellow Vests Protest France March 2019 A Yellow Vest protester holds a placard reading 'my loved ones, dad protests to change your country', on Denfert Rochereau Square in Paris on March 23, 2019, during an anti-government demonstration called by the 'Yellow Vest' (gilets jaunes) movement in Paris. - Demonstrators hit French city streets again on March 23, for a 19th consecutive week of nationwide protest against the French President's policies and his top-down style of governing, high cost of living, government tax reforms and for more "social and economic justice."
FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty Images
Yellow Vests Protest France March 2019 A woman holds her pet dog as French anti-riot police officers evacuate people during an anti-government demonstration called by the "Yellow Vests" (Gilets jaunes) movement near Garibaldi Square in Nice, southeastern France, on March 23, 2019. - Thousands of police fanned out across central Paris, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Dijon, Rennes and Nice, on March 23, 2019 as 'Yellow vest' demonstrators are expected to hit French city streets again for a 19th consecutive week of nationwide protest against the French President's policies.
VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images
Yellow Vests Protest France March 2019 A protester wearing a yellow vest holds a placard reading 'the King is naked' in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris on March 23, 2019, during an anti-government demonstration called by the 'Yellow Vest' (gilets jaunes) movement in Paris. - Demonstrators hit French city streets again on March 23, for a 19th consecutive week of nationwide protest against the French President's policies and his top-down style of governing, high cost of living, government tax reforms and for more "social and economic justice."
KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP/Getty Images
Yellow Vests Protest France March 2019 A protester from the 'Gilets Jaunes' (Yellow Vests) wears a yellow vest reading 'Macron, do you feel the quenelle?' (gesture popularized by French activist Dieudonne M'bala M'bala evoking fisting practice) on the Esplanade du Trocadero during the 'Act XIX' demonstration (the 19th consecutive national protest on a Saturday) in Paris, France, 23 March 2019. To prevent a repeat of the last week riots, French authorities have banned demonstrations in a large area in the west of Paris, including the Champs-Elysees. Yellow vest organizers called on social media for protests in different places in Paris, including the Trocadero square.
EPA
Yellow Vests Protest France March 2019 Yellow Vest protesters hold a banner reading 'unemployment rights for all', on Denfert Rochereau Square in Paris on March 23, 2019, during an anti-government demonstration called by the 'Yellow Vest' (gilets jaunes) movement in Paris. - Demonstrators hit French city streets again on March 23, for a 19th consecutive week of nationwide protest against the French President's policies and his top-down style of governing, high cost of living, government tax reforms and for more "social and economic justice."
FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty Images
Yellow Vests Protest France March 2019 Yellow Vest protesters gather on Denfert Rochereau Square in Paris on March 23, 2019, during an anti-government demonstration called by the 'Yellow Vest' (gilets jaunes) movement in Paris. - Demonstrators hit French city streets again on March 23, for a 19th consecutive week of nationwide protest against the French President's policies and his top-down style of governing, high cost of living, government tax reforms and for more "social and economic justice."
FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty Images
Yellow Vests Protest France March 2019 A yellow vest protester holds a placard reading 'democracy? not a chance' during an anti-government demonstration called by the 'Yellow Vest' (gilets jaunes) movement in Paris, on March 23, 2019. - Demonstrators hit French city streets again on March 23, for a 19th consecutive week of nationwide protest against the French President's policies and his top-down style of governing, high cost of living, government tax reforms and for more "social and economic justice."
FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty Images
Yellow Vests Protest France March 2019 A protester waves a coloured flag during a protest by the anti-government "Yellow Vests" (Gilets jaunes) movement in the city of Nice, southeastern France, on March 23, 2019. - Thousands of police fanned out across central Paris, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Dijon, Rennes and Nice, on March 23, 2019 as 'Yellow vest' demonstrators are expected to hit French city streets again for a 19th consecutive week of nationwide protest against the French President's policies.
VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images
Yellow Vests Protest France March 2019 Yellow Vest protesters take part in an anti-government demonstration called by the 'Yellow Vest' (gilets jaunes) movement in Paris, on March 23, 2019. - Demonstrators hit French city streets again on March 23, for a 19th consecutive week of nationwide protest against the French President's policies and his top-down style of governing, high cost of living, government tax reforms and for more "social and economic justice."
KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP/Getty Images
Yellow Vests Protest France March 2019 A man holds a placard as people attend the 19th week of Yellow vest demonstrations in Paris, France on March 23, 2019.
Julien Mattia/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Yellow Vests Protest France March 2019 People attend the 19th week of Yellow vest demonstrations as security forces stand guard in Paris, France on March 23, 2019.
Julien Mattia/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Yellow Vests Protest France March 2019 This picture taken early on March 2019, shows French police vehicles parked along the Champs-Elysees avenue in the French capital Paris in readiness for "Yellow vest" (Gilets jaunes) anti-governemnt demonstrators on the 19th consecutive week of nationwide protest. - Paris police have banned the protesters from a large area in the west of the city, including the famed Champs-Elysees avenue (which leads to the Arc de Triomphe), scene of last week's rampage by hundreds of anarchists, as well as the presidential palace and National Assembly.
FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty Images
Yellow Vests Protest France March 2019 Newly appointed Paris police Prefect Didier Lallement (C) speaks with police officers as he visits the Champs-Elysees avenue early on March 23, 2019 in the French capital Paris in readiness for "Yellow vest" (Gilets jaunes) anti-governemnt demonstrators on the 19th consecutive week of nationwide protest. - Paris police have banned the protesters from a large area in the west of the city, including the famed Champs-Elysees avenue (which leads to the Arc de Triomphe), scene of last week's rampage by hundreds of anarchists, as well as the presidential palace and National Assembly.
FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty Images
Yellow Vests Protest France March 2019 People attend the 19th week of Yellow vest demonstrations as they march in Paris, France on March 23, 2019.
Julien Mattia/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Yellow Vests Protest France March 2019 People attend the 19th week of Yellow vest demonstrations as they march in Paris, France on March 23, 2019.
Julien Mattia/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Yellow Vests Protest France March 2019 A man holds a placard during the 19th week of Yellow vest demonstrations in Paris, France on March 23, 2019.
Julien Mattia/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Yellow Vests Protest France March 2019 A protester from the 'Gilets Jaunes' (Yellow Vests) stands on the Esplanade du Trocadero, facing the Eiffel Tower during the 'Act XIX' demonstration (the 19th consecutive national protest on a Saturday) in Paris, France, 23 March 2019. To prevent a repeat of the last week riots, French authorities have banned demonstrations in a large area in the west of Paris, including the Champs-Elysees. Yellow vest organizers called on social media for protests in different places in Paris, including the Trocadero square.
EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON
In December 2018, French parliament passed a law forcing big social media sites and search engines to be more transparent about the sources of political advertising.
It obliges companies to publish how much they are paid for electoral advertisements, as well as providing an online register of who is behind sponsored political messages on its platform.
Twitter has not yet updated its services in France to provide the required transparency.
The new law aims to crack down on underhand targeted advertising aimed at shaping public opinion, a practice that came to light following US elections and the Brexit referendum.
However, interior minister Christophe Castaner has criticised Twitter for interpreting the law to encompass the campaign for voter registration.
“Twitter’s priority should be to fight content supporting terrorism,” he tweeted.
“Not campaigns that encourage people to sign up for the electoral role in a democratic republic.”
Mr Castaner said the subject will be discussed with the Big Four tech companies at the G7 summit with interior ministers on Thursday.
Google and Facebook have already introduced transparency settings for its sponsored advertisements.
Last year, Minister for Europe and Foreign affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, doubled down on the “manipulation of information” prevalent on the internet, which he called “orchestrated campaigns” spreading “deliberately-fabricated fake or biased news” for political purposes.
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