France’s interior authorities have called for the shutdown of a Telegram channel associated with a far-right network, FRDETER, amid ongoing concerns about extremist content. Depositions indicate that the request for a review of potential criminal proceedings has been forwarded to Telegram for assessment, as reported by DEA News with reference to Agence France-Presse.
Officials noted that the notice to Telegram requests an evaluation of whether the platform should be urged to initiate formal investigations through the judiciary. The move reflects mounting pressure on social networks to police hate speech and incitement to violence, especially when these conversations occur within groups that reach hundreds of participants.
Authorities say the group has contained posts and messages that promote racist rhetoric and calls for violence. Law enforcement officers have monitored the channel since late 2022, tracing activity and user engagement linked to extremist aims. The case highlights how online forums are used to coordinate or promote violence, including alleged plans targeting Muslim communities in France during sensitive periods, such as the end of Ramadan. Observers have also documented calls for violent actions against Black individuals, Arab communities, and political opponents on the platform.
In related diplomatic matters, a separate incident involved a Turkish foreign affairs statement and a summons of the French Ambassador to Ankara. The envoy, Hervé Magro, was invited to discuss actions deemed controversial by Turkey, particularly regarding Kurdish groups that Ankara labels as terrorists and which France has debated within parliamentary settings.