France orders online marketplaces to remove stolen goods listings after looting
The French government has asked major second‑hand platforms to delete listings of goods stolen during weekend riots.
Key facts
- France’s Digital Affairs Minister Anne Le Hénanff demanded that Vinted, eBay and Amazon remove listings of stolen goods without delay.
- Vinted said it has already removed items believed to be looted during the riots and will monitor suspicious listings.
- The government held a meeting with Vinted, Amazon, eBay, Meta, TikTok and Leboncoin to discuss cooperation.
- French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu ordered local authorities to impose partial curfews to curb further looting.
- Serge Papin said a special support fund will aid about 3,000 businesses affected by the unrest.
On 19 October, the French government instructed major online marketplaces to remove listings of goods stolen during weekend riots. The directive came after widespread looting in cities such as Paris, Marseille and Lille.
Digital Affairs Minister Anne Le Hénanff posted on X that platforms must act without delay and cooperate with authorities to identify and prosecute sellers. A meeting was held with representatives of Vinted, Amazon, eBay, Meta, TikTok and Leboncoin.
Vinted confirmed it has removed listings it believes are linked to looted items and increased monitoring of suspicious posts. The company said it has a zero‑tolerance policy for stolen goods.
Serge Papin, Minister for Small Businesses, said investigators and platforms would coordinate to establish a protocol for identifying sellers. He also announced a special support fund for roughly 3,000 local businesses impacted by the unrest.
The Prime Minister ordered partial curfews in affected areas to prevent further looting.
Context
The directive follows a weekend of riots sparked by protests over the cost of living and public spending. Shops across France were ransacked, leading to at least 1,200 arrests and damage to more than 2,000 businesses. Online marketplaces have been used to sell stolen goods, prompting government action.
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