Apology of terrorism - Provocation to terrorism

Verified 07 August 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

On the Internet or in the press, if content defends terrorism or incites to commit terrorist attacks, it may be provocation or apology of terrorism. These actions constitute a offense. Anyone can report these facts and request the deletion of the contents illicit. If the content directly affects the victim, the victim may also file a complaint. Here are the steps to follow.

Step-by-step approach

Apology of terrorism

The apology of terrorism consists of presenting or commenting favorably on terrorism in general or on terrorist attacks (for example: a person who wears a T-shirt with the inscription "born on September 11, I am a bomb" may be convicted for the apology of terrorism).

Supporting the author of a terrorist attack is tantamount to glorifying terrorism. The same is true when a person shows equal consideration for victims and perpetrators of terrorist attacks.

This offense is constituted when the words are spoken publicly : they may be heard or read by an unspecified number of people (such as in a public place, in the media, on social media). The author must express himself by one of the following means:

  • Speech, shouts or threats
  • Writings, prints, drawings, engravings, paintings, emblems, images
  • Any other medium of writing, speech or image
  • Closets or posters
  • Any means of electronic communication.

For example, a person who justifies or glorifies the commission of an attack on a social network can be prosecuted for advocating terrorism.

Provocation to terrorism

The provocation to terrorism isdirect incentive to commit acts of terrorism.

The perpetrator (through his words, the dissemination of images or videos, the publication of writings, etc.) calls on others to commit an act of terrorism, regardless of whether the provocation is effective or not.

Moreover, it is not necessary that the incitement was committed in front of a large public. Statements made at a private meeting or accessible to a few friends on a social network can be sanctioned.

Reporting to law enforcement

Any person (victim, witness, adult, minor) can report a website or digital content inciting or glorifying an act of terrorism.

For example, it is possible to mention:

  • An internet link received by SMS as soon as it leads to a terrorist site
  • An image published on social networks
  • A video or message posted on a blog, forum or chat

This report can be made online, from PHAROS. This platform is integrated into the Office anti-cybercrime (OFAC).

Report illegal internet content (internet-report: Pharos)

This warning may in particular enable theCfao: titleContent take the necessary measures to remove or block access to terrorist content.

Warning  

PHAROS: titleContent does not deal with urgent cases. In case of emergency (e.g. imminent terrorist threat), contact the police or gendarmerie at 17.

Reporting to the host or the manager of an online platform

The hosting providers must offer internet users mechanisms to report content published on a site or a website. online platformwhen they consider it to be illicit.

These mechanisms must be easily accessible to anyone who wishes to report illegal data. It must be able to issue an alert by electronic means.

Social networks (Twitter, Facebook,Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, etc.) have developed reporting systems that allow for accurate explanation of the situation and reporting of illegal content.

In the case of independent websites (e.g. the website of a company), the person who wishes to make a report must search for the host's contact details (e.g. email address).

FYI  

In general, the contact details of the host can be found in the legal notice of the website.

The alert shall contain the following information:

  • Description of the content illicit
  • Content localization (for example, URL address)
  • Contact details of the notifier (surname, first name, email address, etc.)
  • Declaration of good faith.

FYI  

It is not mandatory to have tried to contact the offender to report illegal content to the internet host. The victim or witness may directly report the facts to the host.

If a person reports content as illegal, knowing that it is not, he or she faces a sentence of one year in prison and €15,000 of fine.

Withdrawal by law enforcement

There are 2 complementary procedures used by law enforcement.

Removal of content within one hour

THECfao: titleContent may order the hosting providers remove or block access to terrorist content in all Member States of l'. We are then talking about a withdrawal order. It is carried out under the supervision of the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication (Arcom).

The host or the content provider a one hour from receipt of the withdrawal order to remove or block access to terrorist content.

They may nevertheless challenge that injunction before the President of the administrative tribunal.

For this, they have a period of 48 hours:

  • From the receipt of the withdrawal order, for the host
  • From the moment it is informed of this injunction, for the content provider.

The administrative judge may uphold the withdrawal order or order its annulment. It must make its decision within 72 hours of the time it is seized.

Blocking of the website containing terrorist data within 24 hours

THECfao: titleContent, who is informed of a case of provocation or apology of terrorism, may request the hosting provider or atpublisher an online communication service (e.g. social media, website, forum, blog) to remove the content illicit. In this case, the person to whom the request has been addressed shall have a period of 24 hours to remove terrorist content.

This period runs from the withdrawal request sent to the host or the publisher of the web page.

If the content has not been removed within 24 hours, Ofac must transmit to the internet service providers (e.g. Orange, SFR, etc.) all internet addresses (URLs) of the online communication services containing terrorist information. Providers must immediately block access to these addresses.

Removal by the host of the website

After receiving a report,the hosting provider sends an acknowledgement to the notifier. It shall inform it of its decision on the reported content as soon as possible.

If the content is illegal, the host must immediately remove it from the site on which it appears.

If a publication or content of a terrorist nature carries directly affected to a person, he can file a complaint against the perpetrator (or against X if he does not know his identity). It may also be formed civil party to obtain damages and interest.

FYI  

If the victim has already filed a complaint, associations that have been regularly declared for more than 5 years and that propose to assist victims of crime can become a civil party in order to obtain compensation.

The victim has 6 years from the publication of terrorist content to lodge a complaint.

The complaint can be lodged with any police station or gendarmerie brigade. It will be forwarded to National Counter-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office so he can investigate.

Who shall I contact

As soon as a complaint is lodged, the victim may call on a lawyer who will assist him until the possible judgment of the author by the criminal court.

Please note

If the victim does not have sufficient income to pay the lawyer's fees, the victim may eventually apply for legal aid.

If the victim has filed a complaint, the perpetrator of an act of apology for terrorism or provocation to terrorism may be tried and convicted by the criminal court.

FYI  

Prosecutions may be initiated by the National Counter-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office, even if there has been no prior complaint.

The penalties incurred differ depending on the context in which the offense was committed:

General scenario

A person who incites or promotes terrorist attacks shall be liable to a penalty of:

  • 5 years in prison
  • And €75,000 of fine.
Infringement on the internet

Where the apology or incitement to terrorism has been committed on the Internet, the perpetrator shall be liable to a penalty of:

  • 7 years in prison
  • And €100,000 of fine.

It also risks a additional penalty which consists in banning him from the online platform from which he committed the offenseoffense.

As soon as they are informed of this conviction, the providers of the online service concerned must block the accounts of the perpetrator and ensure that he cannot create new ones.

Ec banishment is valid for a maximum period of 6 months. This period may be extended to one year in case of recurrence.

Please note

Those responsible for online communication services (hosting providers, internet publishers, internet service providers, etc.) who do not comply with their obligations (e.g. failure to comply with a withdrawal order) may also be subject to prosecution initiated by the National Counter-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office. They face fines and prison terms.

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