Violent unrest has hit cities in France, Italy, Belgium, and Spain. Some leaders blame foreign countries. Italy’s defense minister, Guido Crosetto, said someone used TikTok, YouTube, and other social media to fight a new kind of war. He blamed this for the violence in Milan. France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, said there was no proof of foreign action behind the events. But he said foreign groups used the situation afterward to spread misleading messages.
The European Commission has not started a formal investigation. It says it does not have enough proof. National groups that check online services have asked it to investigate. The Commission says it is ready to help national authorities. A European Union law allows emergency action on online services during serious threats to public safety or health. The Commission has not used this power.
Police have asked online services for help finding people involved in stealing and damaging property. In France, some people tried to sell stolen things on Vinted, a shopping website. Vinted says it is helping police. Networks with links to Russia have also used the violence to spread false or misleading messages. This does not prove they caused the unrest.
