France: Thousands of protesters wrongly punished under draconian laws in pre and post COVID-19 crackdown

Three years after Emmanuel Macron made an election pledge to protect the right to peaceful assembly, peaceful protest faces an unprecedented attack

How a Papal Ban Reshaped the French Right – The Journal of Politics Blog

Political extremism is often attributed to voter anger and broader structural socioeconomic conditions. From this perspective, efforts to counter extremist movements may appear futile, since such groups are seen as deeply embedded in the contexts from which they arise. But is this necessarily the case? To address this question, we examine the Papal condemnation of an influential far-right movement in interwar France.

How to fight hate: New Humanist’s Autumn 2026 issue is out now

With race riots on the rise and the populist right gaining traction, we ask how the UK can push back

French ministers send mixed messages as school student anger rises and new protests loom

Hundreds of secondary schools across France have been hit by protests and blockades as students protest against crumbling buildings, poorly equipped classrooms, overcrowded classes and a lack of tea…

Data Feminism for AI

Attacks on women and trans people are not happening in a vacuum. Communications scholars W. Lance Bennett and Marianne Kneuer recently argued that we are witnessing the intensification of "illiberal public spheres" around the world (Bennett and Kneuer, 2023). These are characterized by a set of anti-democratic communications tactics that include the denigration and exclusion of minoritized people, targeted attacks on the press and political institutions, and transgression of norms of civil discourse. Such tactics are enabled and amplified by the social media platforms owned by Big Tech, whose business model elevates attention above all other metrics, such that they profit richly off extremism, threats, spectacle, and lies. The success of this corporate partnership with right-wing extremism is evident in the proliferation of book bans (Magnusson, 2024), the demonization of DEI and critical race theory (Crenshaw, 2022), and mob tactics to doxx, intimidate, misrepresent, and otherwise silence people that study misinformation, speak out against racial and gender violence, or rule against insurrectionists (Edmonds, 2024). At the same time, we have seen the continued work of feminists, including Latin American, Indigenous, and abolitionist feminists in the US and globally, doing the work of imagining alternate worlds (Cullors, 2021; Davis, 2022; Ricaurte, 2019; Simpson, 2017). This paper represents our own first attempt to imagine a more equitable, sustainable, feminist world for AI research.

French protests: the post-insurrection 'hangover' in Paris

There were unprecedented scenes of violence and rioting surrounding nationwide protests in France on Saturday, when up to 800,000 demonstrators voiced a variety of grievances, from students denounci…

The Most Violent Police Force in Europe: Police Brutality in France — The World Mind

Contributing Editor Aaron Shires explores the rise in excessive use of force by French police forces and the disparate impact this has on racial minorities in France.

Who reposts which media sources? And why this matters for understanding populist politics

In social media, while documenting what gets said is important, understanding who posts which sources to raise their visibility is also key. Katharina Tittel, William Allen, and Pedro Ramaciotti use immigration in France to show how far-right users of X cite sources strategically to achieve their goals

France: Police and protesters clash in nationwide protests

Unrest broke out in parts of France as students, trade unionists and Yellow Vest activists took to the streets to protest high prices and inequality. Police arrested over 1,000 people amid chaotic scenes.

Elon Musk’s Race War Just Took Darker Turn—Time for a Global Response

The violent fascist riots in Belfast reveal the future that the trillionaire really wants. We need an international movement to constrain him.

Architecture & Design on Instagram: "Paris witnessed widespread unrest on October 17 as demonstrations over rising living costs and deteriorating public services escalated into clashes, looting and fires. Around 110,000 people gathered in Paris, while nationwide turnout was estimated at 550,000 by authorities and 800,000 by organizers. Students, trade union members and other demonstrators protested over the cost of living, wages, education and government policies. Near Place de la République, masked groups smashed storefronts, looted businesses and set fires. Police used tear gas and water cannon as clashes erupted in central #Paris. Violence was also reported in Lyon, Marseille, Lille and Limoges. In Limoges, a fire severely damaged the historic city hall, causing its roof and clock tower to collapse. Paris police reported 855 arrests by October 18, while nationwide arrest figures continued to rise as authorities updated their totals. The #protests reflected wider frustration over the cost of living and the state of public services. Clashes, looting and fires caused significant disruption and damage to businesses and public buildings. 🎥: anyaraiszadeh #architectanddesign"

23K likes, 1,839 comments - architectanddesign on October 19, 2026: "Paris witnessed widespread unrest on October 17 as demonstrations over rising living costs and deteriorating public services escalated into clashes, looting and fires. Around 110,000 people gathered in Paris, while nationwide turnout was estimated at 550,000 by authorities and 800,000 by organizers. Students, trade union members and other demonstrators protested over the cost of living, wages, education and government policies. Near Place de la République, masked groups smashed storefronts, looted businesses and set fires. Police used tear gas and water cannon as clashes erupted in central #Paris. Violence was also reported in Lyon, Marseille, Lille and Limoges. In Limoges, a fire severely damaged the historic city hall, causing its roof and clock tower to collapse. Paris police reported 855 arrests by October 18, while nationwide arrest figures continued to rise as authorities updated their totals. The #protests reflected wider frustration over the cost of living and the state of public services. Clashes, looting and fires caused significant disruption and damage to businesses and public buildings. 🎥: anyaraiszadeh #architectanddesign".

Praxis on Twitter / X

I think Eduardo Galeano in this piece does a great job pointing out how society tolerates inequalities. More importantly he exposes the sanitized terms we use to justify them. He juxtaposes concepts that our political and ethical dictionary would never allow together. When a++ pic.twitter.com/XJsvSNUxVY— Praxis (@praxiss) September 25, 2026

Free Speech Experts: Jonathan Haidt’s Moral Panic Is As Old As Democracy Itself

We’ve been saying for years now that Jonathan Haidt’s crusade against social media and kids is a moral panic dressed up in academic robes, and that the evidence simply does not support …