France demands online platforms remove goods stolen during weekend riots

PARIS, Oct 20 (OPA) — French Digital Minister Anne Le Henanff has directed online marketplaces to remove listings for goods suspected of being stolen during recent violent protests. The directive follows reports of over 3,000 businesses sustaining damage, with social media users flagging items appearing for sale on various platforms since Sunday.

Le Henanff met with officials from the interior and justice ministries alongside representatives from Vinted, Amazon, eBay, Leboncoin, Meta, and TikTok. The government is demanding that these platforms not only delete suspicious listings but also provide data to assist in the prosecution of individuals attempting to profit from the looting.

Vinted stated it maintains a zero-tolerance policy and is actively coordinating with French law enforcement to identify illicit listings. eBay reported it has not confirmed a surge in stolen goods but noted the use of proactive technological tools to monitor its marketplace. The French online retail association Fevad was also present at the emergency talks.

The unrest, which occurred six months ahead of the presidential election, follows weeks of student-led demonstrations regarding school conditions. Authorities are now focused on tracking the movement of stolen inventory as the government attempts to stabilize the retail sector following the significant property damage reported across the country.